TWO ARRESTS MADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 36

TWO ARRESTS MADE.

A CHARGE OF MURDER.

(BrAjUR Special Reporter.)

Lawrence, July 6.

As was indicated in the Daily Times of this morning arrests have been made by the police in connection with the Pomahaka mystery. On Saturday the body of Mrs Matson, who suddenly disappeared in February lact, was found in a paddock adjoining the Pomahaka river, where it had evidently been washed by the recent flood water caused by the recent heavy raios. The circumstances under which the body was found were such as to suggest foul play, and the next day (Sunday) the police arrested on a charge of murder Carl Matson, the husband of the deceased, and also tbe young woman with whom he was living— Hannah Bertha Ciark,

THE DECEASED WOMAN.

The maiden name of tbe unhappy woman who met such a terrible fate was O'Shea, and it is stated tbat she has' a near relative who conducts a tobacconist's business in Wellington. For some time a ( ter &he had separated from her husband she sought means of earning her livelihood in Ciu'istehurch. Subsequently *he came to Dunedin, where she remained fora. brief period, after which, through the agency of some persons who took pity on her desolate fctotte, she was admitted to the Mouut Mfigd&la Asylum. Subsequent events go to prove thai' in spite of the narih treatment meted out to her by her husband she cherished a good deal of affection for him, and ehe endeavoured, womanlike, to accomplish a reunion by exciting motives of jealousy in his breast. She wrote letters to him, iv one of which she m&do a statement to the effect that she had been previously married, and when she had married Mat-sou her former husband was still liviag. The latter, she stated, had cow reappeared, and discovering her whereabouts besought her to return to him/ This, she stated, waa her intention to do if Matson did not reciprocste the love she bore him. s This story proved to be a fabrication pure and simple, and it by no means attained the object fur wk'ch it was concocted, for Matson listened not to her pleadiogs. On the contrary, he utilised the very letters in which the admissions were made in an endeavour to secure from the court the cancellation of the maintenance order obtained by his wife after she left the asylum. It was when confronted with these letters that tbe unfortunate woman admitted that she had invented tho story to revive the affections of her husband towards her. The court accepted her explanation as genuine, and although Matson had the advantage of legal assistance, his request to have the order rtvoketl was refused.

THE VISIT TO POMAHAKA.

According to a statement of tbe girl Clark, who was living with Matson at Ponuriuka, Mrs Matson, when she returned to her husband and found her in the house, did not desire her to depart. On tbe contrary, she begged of her to stay, as she said she would' feel lonely in that desolate region. Clark stated further, when she was approached by the polico officers jusfe after the disappearance of tbe woman, that when she got on to tbe vehicle to proceed to Clinton Mrs Matson tried to follow her, and Matson struck her with a whip, causing her to scream out. Having taken the girl to Clinton, Matson did not go home that night, but next day he proceeded to the hut and took Clark's boxes and effects away, That night be stayed with some rabbiters. He stated th-it he was afraid to go home, as he feared that his wife had committed suicide and he would find her dead. Oa the evening of tbe following day, which happened to be a Sunday, he reported to a neighbour that Mrs Matson had disappeared. About 8 o'clock on the following morning a miner who was walking along the river bank discovered the woman's clothes and boxes in tbe river. When the police arrived on the scene they found Matson's hut deserted. There was a fire smouldering in the grate, and the officers, raking it up, threw some wood on it. Presently Matson entered the door, and throwing up his arms he declared in his broken English that when he had perceived in the distance the smoke issuing from the chimney of his hut ho thought his •• old woman " had come back.

SEARCHING FOR A CLUE.

As indicated in ye&terday morning's issue, the most persistent search afforded no clue as to what had become of Mrs Matson. The country round about was Bcoured in every direction, and in view of the possibility of the woman having met with her death by foul play— although at that time such an idea was not seriously entertained— the ground in the locality was carefully examined, and anything that would suggest a newly formed grave was submitted to the keenest scrutiny. The search was at length reluctantly abandoned, and publio interest in the affair died away. The mental faculties of some individuals, however, seem to have been exercised to such an extent that they expressed the opinion that the search should have been continued for a longer period. About two months after the police had withdrawn from the locality an auonymous letter was received by the editor of this paper, The letter WB§ tanked ores to tbe police authorities and

the result was that on May 6 Constable Broberg was despatohed to Pornahafea to renew investigations. After spending five days in the diitriefc without/ being rewarded by the discovery of the slightest clue, he returned to Danedin. Tbe next point in the history of the affair is the discovery on Saturday last of the body of the unfortunate female on the banks of the Pomahaka river.

DISCOVERY OF THE BODY.

The body was discovered by John Bain, % rabbiter working on the Clydevale estate. It was in a lagoon in a paddook on the Clydevale station, about 130 yards from tbe river, and was tied up in two sacks. One saok had been pulled down over the head, and the other up over the feet, one sack overlapping the other. The sacks were tied tightly at each end by a piece of rope. The skoll showed marks of violence, but whether inflicted before or after death cannot at present be determined. Tho police were soon afterwards communicated with, and Sergeant Maokay, of Lawrence, acoompanied by Constable M'Ailen, proceeded as soon as possible to .the place, where the body was found. It so happened that about this time Detective Herbert, of Inveroargill, was on his way to that place,' bub being detained at Clinton owing to the flooded ttate of the railway line, and hearing of the finding of the body, he set out for the place where it was, in company with Constable Christie, of Balclntha. The deteotive and Constable Christie met the other two policemen at ' Clydevale, and the fouc proceeded^ together to the paddock where the body" was found. The body having been depoaited in a box which -had been provided for the purpose by Sergeant Maok&y was "removed in a dray to a convenient spot until the police bad returned from Mateon's house.

THE ARRESTS.

They then set out for the house, and on their arrival there Detective Herbert and^etgeant Mackay arrested Mateon and the woman Clark on a charge of murder. The arrest was made about - 12 o'clock on Sunday, and about 10 minutes afterwards Constable Bcoberg, of Danedip,.and Constable* Mathison, of Tapanui, arrived on tho soene. It should be stated that as soon aa the news of the finding of the body reached tho polioe at Danedin Constable Brabarg xtm despatched for Tapanui. He left by the 4.20 p.m. train. on Saturday for Lawrence, and obtaining a hone, rode over to Tapanui bj way of Rae's Junction, having to ride all night. On, reaching Tapanui ho joined Constable Mathison, and the two proceeded to Mason's home, arriving there, as before stated, only a few minutes after the arrest. It will, therefore, be seen that very prompt and tffrctive measures were taken by the polioe to ODeare the capture of the prisoner!, who were not aware when arrested that the body of Mrs Murson had been fouDd. The polioe arrived at La^mics with the two priaoners at 1 o'clcck this .ra» ing.

CHARGED WITH MURDER.

Matson and the woman Clark were subsequently brought before .Mr Francis Oudaille, J.P., charged with the murder, and remanded for eight days. A post mortem exumination of .the body is to be held to-morrow morning by Dr Nichol, of Lawrence, and Dr Sutherland, of Milton, and the inquest will' afterward* bo formallyopcned^ and then adjourned, uaW the police have time to adduce tbe. necewarj 1 evidence.