ROADMAN’S DEATH

Southland Times, Issue 20043, 3 December 1926, Page 8

ROADMAN’S DEATH

FOUND IN SCRUB

BLOOD-STAINED BOTTLES STREWN ABOUT

VICTIM’S MATE HELD ON MURDER CHARGE

(Per United Press Association.)

Opotiki, December 2.

A tragedy that has every appearance of murder was enacted near Torere, about 18 miles from Opotiki, yesterday afternoon, when a roadman, Williams, was found by the police battered to death. The dead man’s mate, Sullivan, aged 50, was arrested on a charge of murder. The two men had been working together for the past four months. Both were in town yesterday morning, and were taken to Torere in the afternoon. Both v are said to have been intoxicated.

On receipt of the news of the tragedy, the police burned to the scene, and found Williams dead in the scrub two chains from where they were dropped. Williams’s head was terribly smashed, part of the skull being missing. Blood-stained bottles were strewn around, with a full bottle of rum and a full bottle of beer, both blood-stained. Half a dozen heavy sticks were also blood-stained. Patches of blood on the road indicated that the victim had tried to run away, and had finally been dragged into the scrub. Sullivan had a bottle of whisky in his hand when arrested, and was talking wildly. He is alleged to have said to Drake, the postmaster at Torere: “I’ve killed my mate,” but denied the killing when arrested. Accused will be formally charged with murder to-day. DETECTIVE ON THE SCENE. The prisoner Sullivan was formally charged before justices with murdering Williams, and remanded for a week. Detective McLeod arrived from Gisborne, and is now inspecting the scene of the murder, accompanied by the local police.