THE GISBORNE MURDER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XV, Issue 4724, 19 July 1890, Page 1

THE GISBORNE MURDER.

(BY TBSEGBAJPH.) Gisbornb, Jaly 18. The body of Robert Stceetar was brought on a packhorse from the. place of discDvery, eight miles aloDg a fearfully rough road, to Whakat'ntu; Hotel, 36 miles from here. Dr Inues conduoted a poßt mortem, and Mr Booth, R.M., held an ibqueat. Mr Rees appeared for the prisoner and Mrs Streeter. ( ' Constable Law Bald he and a patty of natives set out on Wednesday morning to search for the body. They were only 20 mluutes searching before they found It. They went in the direction Indicated by one of the men from the camp as the place where Black had left a spade. : They found a place which looked like a fireplace made for boiling a billy. They looked about and came acroßs a man's feet; they dug deeper into the side of the hill and came across the body jammed ia anyhow with sticks and earth to cover it up. Dr lanes deposed that the body was fully dressed, except for the hat. The clothing was bloodstained, and the battens which bad been placed over the body were also blood stained. There was a hole behind the right ear, three inches by two ; and the skull was fractured into many pieces. Therei waS no mirk of powder around the wound. On searching the brain he found pallets of shots and eev'eral fragments of gravel. The body was healthy. He considered the wound was caused by a shot from a gun. The charge had passed through the head and came out at the left temple.

Elizabeth Streeter said the body was her husband's. She last saw blm five months ago. Arthur Parkinson and Frank M'Donald also identified the body as Streeter'a. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased was murdered by a gunshot wound, but thero was no evidence to show by whom inflicted. The Magisterial inquiry will take place on Monday. The body was a ghastly revolting aped' tacle, but was in fairly good condition, the flesh being white, but much Bhrbnk. The head, however* was a mass of corruption j and the wounds made it more sickening to look at. The whole fide had flattened in, and the features were indistinguishable. The party which left town had a rough trip, the rivers being in High flood and the roads very bad. : This morning the prisoner Blaok was taken in to view the body. Immediately he entered the room the sergeant asked him, "Do you know who that is ?" He replied, "Yes; Robert Streeter." Theße are the only words that have fallen, from him, and throughout he remains stolid.