NAPIER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 696, 15 May 1879, Page 2

NAPIER

May 14. A good deal of uneasiness is felt in Meanee respecting the disappearance of Miss Julia Tatham. Miss Tathani left Mr Parson's house at Papakura a little after dark on Monday evening. She was on horseback and then proceeding to Mr J. Powdrell's. Her horse was found yesterday morning about threequarters of a mile from Cunningham's. A constable has been sent up from Napier to assist in the search.

' This Day. The charge against Patrick Leahey for setting fire to the new school has excited great interest, and the Resident Magistrate's Oourt was crowded last night. The Court sat until 10. 30 o'clock, when, after hearing a large number of witnesses, the magistrates announced that the evidence of a man named Underdown, who was* the chief witness for the prosecution, had been so shaken, that they did not feel justified in committing the prisoner for trial. The friends of Leahey, who crowded the Court, showed by loud stamping and clapping of hands their approval of this decision. Had Leahey been committed for trial, the bill would, it is almost certain, have been thrown out by the Grand Jury, and certainly no petty jury would have convicted upon the evidence adduced. Leahey's friends intend to prosecute Underdown for perjury. -■■

The search made for Miss Tatham having led to the discovery of footprints, supposed to be those of that lady, on one of the banks of the Tutaekuri river, instructions have been given to have that stream dragged, but up to a late hour last night no information as to the result has reached town.