THE TE AWAITE TRAGEDY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2607, 2 March 1904, Page 45

THE TE AWAITE TRAGEDY.

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. WELLINGTON, "February 29. I,en Collinson, employed as a bush-feller at Te Awaite Station, 30 miles from Martinborough, who was shot dead on a bush track near Mr Riddiford's station, was, with his mate, Alfred William Rosa, measuring up some bush which they had felled, when th© affair occurred.' It was near dusk on Friday night, and Ross had loft his companion to cut a sapling, when he heard a report as of a shot from a gun. There is very little doubt that Collinson was murdered, and a man named' Dick Ellis, alias Jimmy M'Konzie, is suspected, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Ellis had lived a nomadic life in the wild bush country near the scene of the murder, but no cause is assigned for th© committal of the crime. The polioa are searching for Ellis, but it is considered thai he will never be taken alive. The country is extremely wild, arid: bushnum who know it will be required to capture him or render aid to the police. Ellis is between 35 and 40 years of age, and said to be eccentric. Coliinso.i was a remittance man, 30 years of age, and is stated to have been at on© time secretary to Sir William Vernon Harcourt. He came to the colony about four years ago. His father is a well-known solicitor in London, and he has a brother in Christchurch. Neither Collineon nor Ross had firearms with them. i CARTERTON, February 29. The man the police are in search of for the Martinborough tragedy is suspected of the arson of a woolshed in the neighbourhood. He had been dismissed from several stations, is known to have threatened _ the life of Mr "Bunny (the manager of Riddiford'B_stations), also the deceased and others. It is supposed he was in search of Mr Bunny when he met the deceased. Mr Bunny^who had- gone out to show the bushmen, a felling contract, was met by fL station ' hand, and returned by another route, otherwise he might have met with the same fat© as 'Collinson. THE INQUEST. MARTINBOROUGH, February 29. Th© inquest touching the death of Leonard Collinson was opened io-day. Dr Pahner deposed that the wound at the 'back of deceased and the other in front were apparently 'caused by a bullet traversing from th© back" to the chest, wounding th© left lung, and lacerating the ventricles of th© heart and shattering' th© sixth rib. The cause of death was rupture of the h'ea<. - t. Ih© shot must hay© been fired from some distance. Alfred William Ross, who wa3 with the deceased when he was shot'on the afternoon of Friday last, said that on Friday ho was at work with deceased and five others at scrub-cutting. Afterwards deceased and witness went for some distance over the hills to another burnt clearing. Deceased was .sitting about 20 yards from the creek. Witness went' across to the oth-er side cf the creek to cut a pole. Witness was there about a couple of minute©, being/ und©r cover, when he heard a shot. H© heard deceased groan and then saw him 'tumble over, turn /»n hi 3 left side, and roll down, the bank* "Deceased bled freely". He did not speak. Witness looked round to see if there was any smoke." but could^soe nothing. If there had .been anyone on the slope cf th© hill above where deceased was witness would have seen him, as there was no cover there.' Witnessi -thought at the time that the shot had com© clean over his head where he was chopping. The sound of the gun eeeined to* be very close to witness. Deceased was facing the creek towaid? witness wHen deceased was sitting down. *Tt was th© first time witness had been up that gully, and h© failed to find his way back. He lay down exhausted, and started ,again at daybreak. Witness was found by MT)onoxtgh and Wolter, two men from th© oamp. They all went back to the body, which was still lying in the same position. On Thursday morning witness saw a man on the hills at the rear of the camp. After further evidence corroborating Ross' -statements and as to de-ceased ptdting he had dismissed tbe suspected man M'Kenzie for the alleged 1 ehootinjr of *heep, the inquest was adjourned till March 9. THE MAN WANTED. James Ellis, alias M'Kenzie, wanted by the police for ihe murder of Len Collinson, is a native of Wellington. He was born in 1861, is sft 34in in height, fair complexion, of slight build, sharp features (nct-e Jbeing long and thin), mouth email. Last seen wearing a deer-stalker hat, broad belt round the waist, khaki coat, armed with a .303 rifle and expansive bullets. The man is eaid to b© a very accurate marksman. The police are going to Te Awaite from all round th© country.