THE TE AWAITE MURDER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1678, 27 April 1904, Page 31

THE TE AWAITE MURDER.

THE MAN ARRESTED NOT ELLIS. Special to the ‘“Mail.” NEW PLYMOUTH, April 25. The man who was thought to be Elli's, alias McKenzie —for whose arrest a warrant was issued in connection with the murder at Te A waite station—has' been definitely identified as David Watt. Watt was arrested at U'renui on Saturday evening by Detective Quirke and Constable Beattie at the hoiuse of Mr Peter Black. He was employed digging potatoes on a farm. He denied that he was Ellis,but said he knew Ellis well. He gave his name as David Watt, and said he worked as a chainman on a survey party in the Wairarapa. whore he knew Ellis. In heigh c, appearance and general build he is said to resemble Ellis, as described in the police records. The man arrested was brought before Mr Cameron. J.P., at Waitara this morning, and remanded to New Plymouth for seven days, with the proviso that he may be brought before the Court at any time during that period. The man has since been recognised by officers of the local Survey Department, however, as David Watt, who. was a draughtsman in the Wellington office some years ago. Mr P. Carrington, who saw Watt at the police station, recognised him as the person he worked with in the Wellington office. Watt named all the offioers who were employed in the office. Mr James McKenzie, Commissioner of Crown Lairds, also knows the man. He recognised him immediately, and the recognition was mutual. Mr Carrington states that he saw the man in New Plymouth last week. H)e saw the photograph of Ellis, and agrees that the resemblance between the two men is very striking. Mr S'a&den, another surveyor, also states that the man now in custody is David Watt, and that last week he spoke to ‘film in New Plymouth. He afterwards saw him at Waitara. Pending the arrival of a witness from Wairarapa, Watt will be held in custody. NEW PLYMOUTH, April 25. Mr McKenzie, -Commissioner of Crown Lands, states that the man arrested, whom be has recognised as Dtaivid Watt, was for twelve years in the 'head offioe

in Wellington, -and came there from U'tago. He served his time with Mr Maben, of Dunedin. The poSlice are arranging for the identification of the man by Mr Wilson, of Martinborough. > Watt, who knows Ellis, worked in a camp adjoining his.