MOUNT EDEN MURDER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13900, 25 January 1916, Page 7

MOUNT EDEN MURDER.

*m —-. YOUNG MAN PURSUED AHD STABBED TO DEATH. (Special to Herald.) ' AUCKLAND, this day! A violent murder occurred on the lower slopes of Mount Eden about 9 o'clock on Saturday night. The victim was a single man named Horatio Heywood Frecherville Ramsden, a waterside worker, aged 25, who resided -with his mother at 169 Nelson street. He was oruelly stabbed to death while fleeing from an assailant who had presumably made a surprise attack. The discovery of deceased's overcoat and hat inside the gate which gives access from Hillside Crescent to the Mount Eden Domain suggests that at the time of the first assault Ramsden was seated, perhaps with a companion, beneath the trees at the lowest edge of the reserve. Tho body was subsequently found some 80 yards further down the slope, m a clump of nasturtiums, by the side of a road track which leads from Hillside Crescent. Mr Charles Nicolls left his home about 9 p.m., and proceeded down Hillside Crescent. Before he had gone far he heard two cries for help. These came from behind, and his first impression was that some larrikins were skylarking. The cry came again, wtith the sound of a crash, as though caused by a falling body. He turned back. The night was very dark, and heavy rain had fallen <lur*mg the afternoon. When Mr Nicolls bad passed the corner clump and was crossing to his front gate he beard a rustling sound. On looking back he observed a man emerge from a bush and run down the footpath toArards the Mount Eden road. The cries for help and the sound of running feet were also heard by Mrs Nicolls and her sister, Mass Smelt. They proceeded to search with a lighted lamp, and within a few moments located a body m a clump of nasturtiums. A post mortem examination revealed shocking mutilations. There were 11 knife wounds m the chest, side, and back, a bruise on the top of the head, a deep cnt m the palm of one hand, and cuts on the fingers on the other hand. Tlie theory advanced is that when first attacked' Raansden- probably resisted, and while struggling received some minor stabs m the chest and on the bands from' his assailant's knife; that he then attempted to escape, and while running down the track received more stabs m the back and side; that when he reached the corner he endeavored to increase his lead by cutting through the clump of bushes, but fell oyer a log, wiith his pursuer on top of him; that the latter, m the course of a further struggle, forced his murderous knife right to his victim's heart. This last dreadful wound caused death. Ramsden is described as a very quiet, inoffensive young man, helpful to his mother, and a regular attendant at tliei Central Mission. A letter from a female acquaintance was found on the body, but it made no mention of an appointment. None of the pockets of deceased's clothing had been disturbed, which suggests that the motive was not robbery. The most persistent theory is that Ramsdeti was probably m the company of a female when someone intervened, and that the struggle which ensued led to thetise of the deadly knife. An inquest was formally opened by Mr Fraser, iS.M. A younger brother said that he last saw deceased alive at about 6.30 p.m. on Saturday, when he was m his usual health and strength. He said he was going out. Witness asked him where he was going, and he replied, "Mind your own business." An adjournment of the inquest was made to enable tlie police to investigate. _