THE POMAHAKA MYSTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 30

THE POMAHAKA MYSTERY.

THE INQUEST.

Dr Sutherland (of Miiton) and Dr Nicoll (of Lawrence) yesterday made a post mortem examination of the body of Mary Matsou, which was found in a lagoon on tho banks of the Pomahaka rirer on Saturday, 4tb inst. The full result of their examination will, however, not be made public until the inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of the deceased. The doctors had an exceedingly unpleasant task to perform in dissecting the body, and were a considerable time over it, as they found it necessary to make frequent adjournments from the room where the examination was being carried on to the fresh air outside*. I The body was very mucb swollen with having beau in ihe water so Ion;, aud it is evident it will be an extremely difficult matter for anyone to identify it. The clothing, however, will probably be identified without any serious difficulty. M&tson and the womau Clark, it may be stated, have admitted that ' the body is that of the former's wife, but it is intended to get Mrs Matsoh's sister, who lives in Dunedin, to identify the body also if ] possible. I

There were two wounds, it should be mentioned, on the deceased' 6 head, but the skull was not fractured.

After the post mortem examination the jury, who had previously been summoned to inquire into the matter of the deceased's death, viewed the body, and the inquiry was then adjourned until 10 a.m.' on Wednesday, the 15ch inst. The inquiry will be conducted by Mr Richard Filling, acting-ooroner, and the following geutlemeo constitute the jury : — Peter Skinnec (foreman), Francis Moir, Alexander Miller, Alexander Blair, Charles Stokes, and Robert M'Nnb.

The inquest will in all probability be followed immediately by a magisterial inquiry, which will be conducted by Mr Hawkins, 8.M., and Mr 8. Solomon has been retained as counsel to defend Matson.

Carl Idatson and the woman Hannah Bertha Clark were brought to Dunedin by train last night in charge of Detective Herbert and Constable Broberg. On the way down from Lawrence the prisoners were eagerly scrutinised by the spectator* at every wayside station. They, however, did not appear to feel their .position very keenly. The woman's mother and step-father reside at Maori Hill, and she has a married sister living in Dunedin.