STEWART ISLAND TRAGEDY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20290, 24 December 1927, Page 12

STEWART ISLAND TRAGEDY.

SUDDEN DEATH OF ACCUSED. SUPPOSED HEART FAILURE. (Feb United Phess Association.) INVERCARGILL, December 23. Arthur Victor Valentine, charged with the murder of Andrew Jose, died suddenly at the Borstal Institution at 9 o’clock this morning. His death is sup posed to have been due to heart failure When the accused appeared in tin court yesterday his haggard expression and heavy breathing indicated severe mental tension. An inquest will bo held to-morrow. FURTHER INQUIRIES UNLIKELY. Our Invercargill correspondent reports that Valentine was attended each day by Dr Crawford, who is the Borstal institution doctor. Early this morning he was taken into the yard for the usual exercise when he suddenly collapsed. The doctor was sent for immediately, but when he arrived Valentine was dead. The doctor’s opinion was that his heart had failed consequent upon the strain of the anticipated trial. While realising the seriousness of the circumstances h e was quiet enough, and to all intents showed no trace of insanity. An inquest is to be held at 9 o’clock this morning. It seems unlikely that any further inquiries will be conducted beyond the holding of a formal inquest upon Andrew Jose, the murdered man, at Stewart Island within the next few days.

On December 14, Andrew Jose, a Malayan, 80 years of age, was found battered to death in his house at Horseshoe Bay. Ho was lying in a pool of blood, his features being terribly disfigured, evidently by some blunt instrument. His wrists were bruised and cut by his endeavours to shield himself from the blows. Valentine was employed by the Bluff Harbour Board as accountant, and on December 1 a Press Association telegram stated that he was found in the board’s office, with a wound in his head, and the pay monev for the dredge >mployees missimr. He afterwards wont to Stewart Island to recuperate.