GRUESOME STORY
NARRABRI MURDER
ACCUSED’S STATEMENT TO POLICE BODY 7 CHOPPED TO PIECES (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 10.5 p.m.) Sydney, December 5. At the inquest at Narrabri to-day into the death of James Smith, of Sorensen, whose dismembered body was found in Narrabri creek, the police read the signed statement of Paul Minel, aged 50, a German labourer, who is under arrest on a charge of murder. Minel sensationally related how, during a drunken quarrel with Smith in an old hut, Smith attempted to strike him with a brick or stone, which Minel wrestled from him and struck Smith with it. Smith fell and appeared to go to sleep. A short time afterwards Minel saw him reach for a rifle. A scuffle ensued, and Minel seized the rifle, which exploded. Smith fell. Minel later noticed that he was dead. He secured an axe and chopped the body to pieces and placed them in bags, the head separately, and dumped them into the creek. Minel then worked about the district for some days. He had a great deal of drink. He sold Smith’s motor truck, and then took Smith’s name and left the district.
Minel was committed for trial on a charge of murder.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19291206.2.44
Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 20950, 6 December 1929, Page 5
Word Count
204GRUESOME STORY Southland Times, Issue 20950, 6 December 1929, Page 5
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Southland Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in