A DEAD MANS HAND. Mysterious and Suspiction Discovery. Christchurch, Dec 22.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 134, 26 December 1885, Page 5

A DEAD MANS HAND. Mysterious and Suspiction Discovery. Christchurch, Dec 22.

On Wednesday last a mild sensation was created by the news that a ghastly discovery bad been made of a dead man's hand on the beach near Suraner, Canteibury, The "find" was made by Elieha Godfrey, a storekeeper in the district, but very little was thought of the occurrence— the local journals giving only a'short paragraph about it. The^tiattd, whioh was a left on, was not .atall^decomposed, and seemed to have been snapped or broken from a body. A day later came the ! tidings that a ring Qn the band had been identified as having belonged to a man named Howard, a workman in Addington/ Kail way Workshops, who had gobe in to bathe at Sumner on 10th October, and had never returned to his home. It was significantly added that Howard's life was insured for £2,400, but even with that hint very few people imagined that a deeply-laid plot to defraud perhaps even a more heinous crime — was about to be discovered. Suspicion was, "however, aroused in some parties by the fact that a man earning 10a a day should have been so heavily insured. Tbe insurance companies, naturally, would not pay without proof, and a reward of £50 was offered by his widow for the body of her husband. Two months passed away, and the matter was almost forgotten. Howard had apparently disappeared from this mortal stage, leaving [only his clothes behind him; but the i discovery of the "hand and ring" last week aroused all the old suspicions, aud suggested a perfect romance of crime. The haud picked up at once became an object of intense interest It was taken to the police station and preserved ia spirits. After preliminary examination, o plaster cast was taken, ten doctors were called in, and, like doctors, they disagreed One medical gentleman believes that it presents exactly the appearance of a limb bitten off by a ehark, the bones being splintered and ragged, and the edges slightly water worn. Others have asserted their belief that it is not a man's but a woman's hand. It is, however, positively alleged th<it the dead hand picked up has a scar on it corresponding to the mark of a wound made on Boward's left hand by a chisel. All kinds of wild rumours of conspiracy have been in circulation, and it is hinted that probably some grave has been opened, and its occupant mutilated in order to supply a hand. As the result of inquiries made by the poliofi, the man who found the hand, along ; with his brother, Frederick Godfrey, a] cook employed at the Sunnyside Lunatic | Asylum, were arrested late yesterday afternoon under a charge of conspiring to defraud the Government Insurance Department of £1,000, the Mutual Life Association of Australaoia of £1,000, and the Accident I Insurance Company of £400, these sums representing the amounts for which Howard had been insured in the respective companies. The police are reticent as to the particulars which have induced them to take this action ; but the natural inference, as to the theory of the police, is that tho hand which Elisha Godfrey picked up is not Howard's hand at all, but that of some other dead person, and that it was " planted " with the knowledge of the two Godfreys, who may be presumed to have acted in collusion with Mrs Howard. In justice to the accused it should be stated, bowever, that no proof of this theory has been forthcoming. The inquest on the hand was held last night, when Mrs Howard and the insurance officers were all present, and represented by counsel Inspector Pender said it had been agreed between the parties interested to adjourn the inquiry for three weeks. This was accordingly done, but in the meantime the Godfreys will be brought before the Magistrate's Court, and possibly pome more light will be thrown upon this very complicated case.