A NAPIER MYSTERY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1536, 7 August 1901, Page 50

A NAPIER MYSTERY

Special to the “Tihvs.” NAi'lExt, July 31

A so;mewhat extraordinary cx.se is agitating th,e local ponce authorities. On July 17tii an unknown person was found on the banks of the YV aitangi creek, on the main line of road between Napier and Clive. At the inquest a witness came forward who swore podtively that the body wa3 that of John Prior, aged about 45, a labourer, who was not known to have any relatives in the colony. Evidence was then given by Mr YV. Milligan, a contractor, in whose employ Priuf had been for some weeks ou a road contract. Furthermore, Detec. tive Benjamin identified the body as that of Prior, whom he had met on the Inland Patea road; and two oilier wit. res 3 es also deposed to seeing deceased at Olive shortly before Ins body was found. All the time the real John Prior was working at Puketapu. He cannot read, and one night someone read out to him a newspaper report of the inquest, and much to his astonishment he found that the Coroner had been holding an inquest on him. Prior, accordingly came into Napier, and told the police that if must have been somebody else they had buried, as lie felt very well himself. The body was not photographed, the police being satisfied with the identity, especially after the strong evidence tendered at' the inquest. The serious ques tion now is: Wlio is the unfortunate unknown man who lies in Napier Cemetery?