THE WHAKATUTU MURDER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8861, 19 July 1890, Page 4

THE WHAKATUTU MURDER.

THE INQUEST.

(Fas Unitbd Fsess Association.)

Gisboenb, July 18.

The body of Robert Streeter was brought on" a packhorse from the place of. discovery, eight miles along a. fearfully rough road, to the Whakatutu Hotel, 3d miles from here. Dr Innes conducted a post mortem, and Mr Booth) R.M., held an inquest.. Mr Bees appeared for prisoner and Mrs Streeter.

Constable Law said ho and a party of Natives set out on Wednesday morning to search for the body, and were only 20 minutes searching when 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 the spot, which looked like a fireplace made for boiling a billy. They looked about and came across a man's feet. They then dug deeper into the side of the hill, and came across the body jammed in anyhow, with sticks and earth to cover it up. i

Dr Irines deposed that the body was fully dressed except for a hat. The clothing was bloodstained, and the battens which had been placed over the body were also bloodstained. There was a hole behind the right ear 3iu by 2in, and the skull was fractured into many pieces. There were no marks of powder around the wound. On searching the brain he found pellets, shot, and several fragments of gravel. The body was that of a healthy man. He considered the wound was caused by a shot from a gun. - The charge passed through the head, and came out at the left temple.

Elizabeth Streeter said the body was her huS' band's. She last saw him five months ago.

Arthur Parkinson and Frank M'Donald also identified the body as Streeter's.

The jury returned a verdict that deceased was murdered by a gunshot would, but there was no evidence to show by whom" inflicted.

The magisterial inquiry takes place on Monday. The body was a ghastly and revolting spectacle. It was in fairly good condition, the flesh being white, but much shrunk. The head, however, was a mass of corruption, and the wounds made in it sickening to look at. The whole face 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 Black 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. Bobert Streeter." These are the only words which have fallen from him, and throughout he retained a stolid simple appearance.