MANY MURDERS

NZ Truth, Issue 791, 1 January 1921, Page 5

MANY MURDERS

TWELVE MOWJOLL OF TRAGEDY Two Murderers Hanged— Three Committed Suicide SPLENDID Wifi THE POLICE

•We, have had a plethora of tragedies m Noo Zee this year. Murders, attempted murders, and suicides have beat all past records m this respect. The actual murders committed during the year totalled twelve, b*ut m addition there were several tragedies where charges of manslaughter were later substituted for the original capital charge. The list below does not make good reading, and suggests that this country is at present participating m the wave of -crime that has travelled over the world since the ocnclusion of the war. t*The people of London were 'alarmed over the fact that last year there were 42 murders m London, yet m New Zealand, with a population of only oneseventeenth that of the great metropolis, there were 12 or more murders. However, there is one satisfactory aspect as far. as this country is concern-, cd. That is, that, although m London only nineteen arrests were made m connection with the forty- two murders, m New Zealand the police were only baffled In two instances, namely, the murder of Mrs. Eliza Jane Hebbend, whose body was found floating. In the harbor, and the death of David John Stanley, who was injured m a fracas, at Auckland. New Zealand has reason to be proud of the fine work of the police and detective force during the year m investigating crime. Three suspected murderers escaped trial by suicide. Following Is THE LIST OF TRAGEDIES: 1 Augustus Edward Braithwaite, postmaster at Ponsonby, Auckland, murdered by, Denis Gunn, on March 13. Gunn was hanged on June 22.

2 Mrs. Eliza Jane Hebbend, murdered m Wellington, some time about March 25. Fearfully mutilated, hody found m Wellington harbor on March 26. Murderer not discovered.

3 Mrs Mary E. Webby, murdered at iPalmerston North m April last Harry Deeley, charged with murdering her, committed suicide In a police cell oh April 16.

4 David John Stanley, died from injuries received m a fracas at Auckland on April 19. Assailant unknown.

5 John Sharp murdered his daughter at Rongahere on May 15. Sentence of death, afterwards commuted to one of life imprisonment.

6 Olive McFall, murdered by her father, Thomas McFall, at Otaki, on May 20. MoFall subsequently committed suicide.

7 Sydney iSeymour Eyre, imirdered at Pukekawa on August 24; Safnuel John Thorn sentenced to death December 3. Hanged December 20.

8 Gavin McKenzie, murdered .at Otaki on September 11. Edward Wm. Hay suspected of same, subsequently committed suicide.

9 Reginald Matthews, at present awaiting trial at j Supreme Court, charged with the murder of Clarence WagstafC at Timaru on October 19.

10 Frederick Spierpoint charged with murdering his mother at Henderson on November 3. Committed to the -Supreme Court for trial.

11 Frederick Telfer murdered at Tokariiria, last month. W.. Anderson charged with saihe, but found not guilty on the ground of insanity.

12 Frederick Thompson charged with the murder of Anthony Rzoska, at Carterton on November 20. At present awaiting Supreme Court trial.

In addition to the above there were several attempted murders, notably the Wanganui sensation, when ex-Mayor Mackay was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for shooting Waiter Darcy Cresswell, the Aro-street outrage when Charles Newberry was sent to gaol for attempting the lives of Mrs. Caroline Cooper and Annie Christina Skjoth, and the Christchurch mystery, m connection with which Frederick Malaquin is at present awaiting trial charged with the attempted murder of his wife.