THE WAIROA CEMETERY OUTRAGE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 20, 28 May 1913, Page 6

THE WAIROA CEMETERY OUTRAGE.

o Wairoa, May 29. Richard McKenzie Edwards, the grave has been committed to an asylum. t *“ ’ A Press Association message yesterday stated: A gross outrage at the Wairoa cemetery was reported to the police this afternoon. A man named J. Jones, a resident of Magaone, was buried yesterday afternoon, and the grave was topped over in the ordinary way. To-day it was discovered that the grave had been opened up down to the coffin, the lid of which was splintered with a spade or axe and the trimmingis exposed. No motive for tlid outrage can be suggested. It would need a strong man to commit so foul a deed. Deceased had nothing of value buried with him, and having been a most inoffesive man, there is no suggestion of revenge. At 5.30 the police arrested Richard McKenzie Edwards, alias De Courcey, on suspicion of rifling the grave. When charged he cofessed and handed over the tools he used. Thb only statement he made was that be was after money. The man appears to be mentally unbalanced.”