SUSPECTED SHOCKING MURDER.

Otago Witness, Issue 555, 19 July 1862, Page 4

SUSPECTED SHOCKING MURDER.

FINDING OP TILE BODY.

A body has been found in the Molyneux, which there is reason to suppose is that of the missing man, Andrew Wilson. The only other particulars to hand are, that the head and face bear traces of being much cut about. Supposing this to be Andrew Wilson, the annals of crime scarcely supply an instance of a murder more opportunely or cleverly found out. The person suspected of the murder, was on the eve of escape, in a few hours he would have sailed in the Gothenburg and once landed in Melbourne, it would have been almost impossible to have hunted him out. About two months ago Wilson left Dunedin, for the purpose of going to the Molyneux district to select land. Fortunately, he left a friend behind him, in Mr. Richard Henry Larey, who, not hearing anything of Wilson for five weeks, started on his track. With praiseworthy zeal and ingenuity, he traced him from Warepa to the Molyneux ferry, where he heard of him, in company with a man named Fratson. Fortunately, he here placed the case in the hands of the Police, "who at once set themselves on Fratson's track, and succeeded in arresting him just as he was leaving the colony by the Gothenburg. A remand was obtained and active measures were commenced for following up the affair. Up to this time it should be remembered, the police had nothing to work upon but the strong belief of Mr. Larcy, that his friend would not absent himself without sending him word. Still, this coupled with the suspicious circumstance of Fratsou's sudden departure, and Mrs. Fratson's allegations that she had never seen the missing man, whereas there was good reason to suppose he had been at her cottage, determined the police in the belief that a murder had been committed. Detective Tuckwell was despatched to the spot, Avhere he remained for six days. He succeeded iv finding a hat believed to belong to the missing man, which has marks of having been cut with some sharp instrument, such as an axe. He also elicited that on the night when Wilson left the Ferry with Fratson to go to the latter's hut, he (Fratson) had borrowed an axe from a neighbor which he had never returned. He also found out that, on the same evening, Mrs. Fratson had gone to a neighboring store, and said she wanted something nice for supper, as a stranger was at home. On board the Gothenburg, Mrs. Fratson denied having seen the missing man. On the strength of this evidence, a further remand was obtained from the Police Magistrate of the prisoner Fratson, and in the meanwhile the Molyneux has been dragged. Yesterday the information came in of the finding of a body beleved to be the one sought after, and on Friday, an inquest will be held at the Molyneux Ferry, before the newly appointed coroner, Mr. Edwin Rich. Too much credit cannot be given to the police for the patient and intelligent care with which they have traced out this too probable deed of crime. Jt" Wilson were murdered, as suspected, the murder was one which Avould have seemed to defy detection. A lonely man, a perfect stranger in the locality, his friends only vaguely guessing his whereabouts, it must have '•seemed, as the body was consigned, heavily weighted, to the swollen waters of the Molyneux, that man's vengeance would sleep on the deed ; that detection was impossible. It would be premature to pass an opinion on the above evidence thus brought to light ; but, without prejudicing Fratson's case, sufficient has been shown for congratulation that the affair will be thoroughly sifted. Fratson was on Thursday brought up and formally charged with the murder. He was remanded uutil after the inquest.