MURDER MYSTERY.

NZ Truth, Issue 71, 27 October 1906, Page 3

MURDER MYSTERY.

Dinnie's Dubious Deed of Destruction. There are some vague rumors floating round m regard to the Fapakaio murder, but as what this writer hears comes from an authentic source it may be mentioned that something moie important will transpire at the magisterial hearing of the charge of murder at Oamaru this week-end than has yet appeared m print. In fact there has been a suggestion made to this writer that the newspapers didn't get all the news that was available, and that the suppression of that news enabled the police to work better. Be that as it may, it is pretty certain that the accused person, John Findlay, will be committed for trial on the charge of having murdered William William Hay Rennie m (the first week of the present month. The evidence given at the adjourned inquest was colorless, or, at least, very little fresh light was thrown on the gruesome subject. Coroner Major Keddell said at the outset that the only important development since the jury had last assembled was the arrest of a man, but the awful affair was still regarded as a mystery ; still no doubt they had formed their own private conclusions on the subject. He thought that from the evidence that would be adduced they had but little option but to return an open verdict. The last person who appears to have SEEN THE DECEASED schoolmaster alive was Richard Thos. Wilson, farmer, of Papakaio, who saw him m the evening near his residence on his bike after he had been to Dunn and Cameron's shop to make a few small purchases. Margaret Irvine, sister to Jane Johnston, who used to look after Rennie's house for him, said she had known the deceased 13 years, and he had always lived alone. Her sister merely called m the daytime and did up his rooms. Schoolmistress Isabella Dunlop, who had toiled with Rennie for two and^ahalf years, said she lived past his place, and on the day before his murder after school hours, they both biked from the school, and she left him at his house. He was m good spirits, and laughed as he turned m his gate. On the following morning as she passed Rennie's house she noticpd the bedroom blinds down, a most unusual thing, but she went on and opened ,

the school. She never Saw him alive again. Renriie had no enemies that she was aware of, nor did anyone bear him any animosity. He made few acquaintances , and was rather reserved." Duncan Cameron, of the firm of Dunn and Cameron, where deceased made purchases on the day prior to the murder, said that he visited Rennie's house next morning, I after hearing of the lamentable calamity, and noticed that the bedroom was IN A DISTURBED STATE ; .clothes were lying on the floor, the deceased's writing desk appeared to have been ransacked, and a carpenter's chisel was lying on the floor, as well as a bunch of keys. Witness was surprised at this, as Renhie was a very methodical man. He then discovered that the cause of death was pretty obvious— murder. Investigation subsequently showed that the chest of I drawers had been prized open with the j chisel; In the course of . his evidence J | Sergt. Griffiths stated that no money had been found m the house by the! police, although search had been made j for it. The jury found that wilful murder had been committed by some person or persons unknown, Major j Keddell having previously remarked that according to the investigations made' i( THE WORST CRIME IN; THE STATUTE BOOK had been committed. One remarkable j thing about the whole business that has struck this writer is the destruction of the lot of photographs found m Rennie's house at the instance of Commissioner Dinnie y who hurried j down to Oam aru from Wellington as soon as the murder was made known. Why did he destroy those photographs ? Rennie was an amateur photographer, and naturally had a goodly number of pictures m his room. Were they photographed from nature, or from obscene pictures, or what ? Dinnie says m emphatic language that no j motive could be deduced from the- pic- j tures, consequently he reduced them to ashes. • Well, is Dinnie quite satisfied with his action now that he has had time for sober reflection ? Why should he have ordered anything to be destroyed ; and what right bad he to destroy anything, anyway ? Were the pictures his property? Didn't they belong to Rennie's family, one of whom, a commercial traveller, gave formal* evidence when the inquest opened ? No sane detective would have put a match to a single article m the house— and Dinnie comes from Scotland Yard ! Well, well ! The photos, whether obscene, or not, should have been preserved , there's no two opinions about that. No chief commissioner of police m the world can tel) j offhand what may or may not have a bearing; on a case, and the southern public who know of the murdered man's particular hobby. and have heard of the burning of these photographs, are asking a few questions about them. They would like to know. If there are any fresh developments m connection with this mysterious crime they will be narrated m "Triuh" next week.