THE BLENHEIM MYSTERY. EVIDENCE OF MURDER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2274, 30 September 1897, Page 20

THE BLENHEIM MYSTERY. EVIDENCE OF MURDER.

Blenheim, September 21

The inquest on the body of H<ury Satherley wfs concluded this afternoon. The mediccl evidence went to show tbat the dtceased met hit death from a heavy blow on tbe i ight side of the head, ii. dieted by a. Limit instrument, aud that there were r:o signs of drowning. A verdict was re'urned that the deceased had been murdered by some person or peisjns unknown.

Iv connection with the mysterious disappearance of Harry Sathorley, who-e body was found in Hie Opawa River on the 18th in»t., Mr B Purser, of Blenheim, is reported to have waited on tho Minister for Justice and the Commissioner of Police, and urged the desirableness of a reward being offered for information. The Hon T. Thompson then (says the Marlborough Times) told him he was absolutoly on the wrong track ; that there was no necessity to offer a reward ; that the department had evidence which put tbe matter beyond 8,11 doubt ; in •hort, thab Satherley was "lying low," and they had a warrant out for his arreet Mr Purser obtained from tho Minister a promise that if the Blenheim River Board declined to allow him to open up, at his own expense, a small section of banking between Clouston'o store and the Alfred street bridge, with a view to investigation — it had said it would — ho would briryg his authority to bear and have the bank opened up. The next point that Mr Purser had to gain was this : — That if the mystery was still unsolved after he had had the bank opened, a substantial reward should be offered, on the understanding that an accomplice giving the information would be acquitted and told to leave the colony. The Minuter, in reply, repeated that there was not the least necessity for such astep. Satherley was not where Mr Purser thought he was. Mr Purser brought further pressure to bear by threatening to call a public meeting in Blenheim at which he would submit a resolution by no means complimentary to the department or the Ministry ; " and," he added with extreme candour, "your action will donbtlesß nob be forgetteu at the next election." Ultimately Mr Thompson gave way to the extent of promising that if a public meeting was called in Blenheim and a resolution passed

requesting the Government to offer a reward he would lay tbe matter before the Cabinet. Mr Purser returned to Blcuheim on Saturday week, and he stepped off the traia lo learn that the body of Satherley hsd been found iv tho river.