OLD WAIRARAPA MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19736, 8 September 1927, Page 13

OLD WAIRARAPA MURDER.

STORY OF THE ARREST. PART PLAYED BY CONSTABLE. J- -' Sopie further details of the arrest of the man known as the Wairarapa murderer, James William Ellis, in December, 1904, are given by Mr. J. S. Willcocks, of Whangarei. Mr. Willcocks was a constable stationed with the Hawke's Bay police and he played a part in the arrest ■ of the murderer. Ellis, whose ceal name was John McKenzie, had murdered Leonard Collinson, at iTe Awaiti, on February 26, 1904. Previous accounts have given all the credit of the arrest to Superintendent Broberg, of Wellington, who was then chief detective in Hawke's Bay. " * Mr. Willcocks says that in November, 1904, he was collecting agricultural statistics in the Waipawa district, and while there he received many reports of houses being broken into and robbed of pro- " visions and firearms. The Wairarapa murder, of which Ellis was suspected, had been committed some nine mouths previously and no trace had been found of the missing suspect. The opinion was generally held among tKe Hawke's Bay police that Ellis was responsible for these thefts and Mr. Willcocks impressed on the settlers in the district the importance of communicating any thefts to him. On November 28, he received a message 1 from Mr. George Douglas, manager of a farm at Wakarara, that his house had been broken into and several articles stolen. Mr. Willcocks accordingly made investigations and was convinced that the robbery had been committed by Ellis. He communicated with Sergeant Smart of . Hastings. and after visiting several bush huts, decided to • stop in one and keep a lookout for the thief After several days he and Mr. Douglas were obliged to return to Wakarara for food. On arrival there they were joined by Chief-Detective Broberg, who had arrived as the result .61 Mr. Willcocks' telegrams. < ' ' When the three men returned to the bush hut they heard someone move inside. Mr. Broberg happened to be nearest to the door and as he opened it, Ellis was just endeavouring to come out. The hunted man made an attempt to rush out but Mr. Broberg forced him back into the hut and Mr. Willcocks and Mr. Douglas, following, each pinioned an arm. He was then taken back to Waipawa, and was later hanged. This account shows that although Mr., Broberg actually effected the arrest, he~ did not do so single-handed. All the preliminary investigations were carried out by Mr. Willcocks, who thus deserves praise for the sensational capture 23 years ago.