A BLENHEIM MYSTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 15

A BLENHEIM MYSTERY.

Blenheim, September 20.

The post mortem examination on the body of Mr Satherly, concluded yetterday, revealed a deep wound in the fore part of the head. Thirteen shillingi'in silver were found on the body. One pocket was turned ineide out. The police search of the river and locality where the body was found did not reveal anything fresh. The community is in a ferment of excitement, the conviction being generally entertained that Satherly had met with foul play.

An inquest touching the mysterious death of Satherly, who disappeared on July 9, and whose body was found in the river last Saturday, was commenced to-day. The evidence has not elucidated the affair to any extent. Ten witnesses have been examined, and it is expected tbe inqu«sb will extend over the next two days. The medical evidence will be taken to-morrow.

The dead man, Harry Satherly, whose body was found in the Opawa River on Saturday, was a horse trainer. On the night on which he disappeared he had a large sum of money upon his person, and two £5 notes were subsequently found is a paddock near the river. The press of Blenheim strenuously maintained that the man had met with foul play, and this opinion' seemed to be entertained also by the residents, who instituted search parties to look for the missing man, but the police held a different view. That the opinion expressed by the press was correct seems to be confirmed by the fact that, as a special message in- the Lytfcelton Times states, the body wh.en found, io/tfw river

on Saturday had weights attached to it. Tha Press Association omitted to forward inform*: tioh of the diflcoTery, of tbe body.