SUSPECTED MURDER AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 900, 22 September 1879, Page 2

SUSPECTED MURDER AT CHRISTCHURCH.

We have the following particulars to hand regarding the disappearance of the man Venn ell for which a free pardon is offered by the Government to any one implicated but not the actual murderer ; — The police have) after diligent search for the missing man, George Vennell, and after the most careful consideration of the various facts discovered, come to the conclusion that he has been undoubtedly murdered. Some peices of old blanket were found on the river near his residence, and the result of the analysis shows that they were stained with what is believed to be human blood. A large stain of blood has been found on the sandhill, about 160 yards from the house, and it presented the appearance of being pressed into the sand, as if a body had been laid down there. It has been found by analysis that this blood is human blood of an age corresponding with the time of the disappearance of Vennell, and that about a quart of blood must have oozed out there. A piece of brown paper, stained with blood, has also been found m a gorse fence about a chain from the house, which appears to have been used m wiping a blood stain — probably from the hands. The pieces of blanket found m the river were, it is believed, used by a person or persons concerned m the murder m cleaning the house before the police were informed of Vennell's disappearance, and the small spots of blood, subsequently discovered, must have tscaped the observation of the persons who cleaned the house. All the circumstances connected with Vennell's disappearance go to point to the fact that he has been murdered, and that his body has been concealed or disposed of some manner. A systematic and diligent search is being made for the body m some hills near his late residence.