Terrible Death

NZ Truth, Issue 1152, 29 December 1927, Page 5

Terrible Death

strength as great and he was obliged to work slowly.

Nevertheless, he was steadily working his way to an independence which he only acquired on the eve of his terrible death.

William Todd, an auctioneer friend, had kindly noted Josey's need for better protection and — with the object of helping him to make his last years on the island free from care or financial embarrassment — promised to build Josey a crib where the old man could live in peace and quiet for the rest of his days. If there is mystery attaching to the murder of Andrew. Josey, there is also mystery concerning a peculiar assault which is alleged to have been committed against Arthur Valentine, who died in custody shortly after his arrest on the capital charge. Valentine was a well-known figure in Bluff- and had been in the employ of the Harbor Board there for twenty - five years.

He acted for some time as chief clerk in the board's office, being appointed accountant quite recently.

The mysterious assault on Valentine has not yet been cleared up. It was on a Thursday morning

whilst the staff was absent at the installation of a new tug ,that

Valentine was stated to have been robbed under peculiar circumstances.

It was said that Miss Lindsay, a stenographer, left the building at ten minutes past ten and w.as the last member of the staff to leave for the morning ceremony.

Valentine was then the sole occupant of the building until the staff returned at ten-thirty.

The counter at the inquiry window of these offices is like most "others used by commercial houses — about two feet six inches wide, the inner apartment screened by a frosted -glass window capable of being raised when necessary.

It was stated that as Valentine raised this window he suddenly felt a numbing sensation on the top of his head as though something had fallen on it and he then knew no more until the first'of the staff returned at ten-thirty.

He was found lying stretched out on