THE LATEST.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 325, 15 December 1888, Page 4

THE LATEST.

Afc the inquest on Saturday on the bodies of Mr and Mrs Pook, the iury returned a verdict of wilful murder against a person 01 persons unknown. There are now six natives under arrest on suspicion, but against one only do the circumstances appear black. This native, Hairai te Peii, and another named Waipiro a\ ere on the evening of the murder playing cards. They left an hour before Pook started for home, but they did not ieach Keporun till six o'clock the next morning, though the latter place is not more than two houis" ride from Waipiro. Haiiai te J'eri has besn tending home money since the night ot the murder, and on bsing questioned where be got ib said his brother had given him it Sergt. Bullen hearing this, arrested the man's brother, Ilohapu Te Pari, who has been knocking about, and the latter being questioned, .stated that he had given Ikaikai no money. Constable (leraid likewise discoveied that the boat of Pen's exactly correspondswith footprints about the house and (store. A knife had i\\->o been discovered, which it- believed to belong to the ptisonei. The police are ot opinion that some butter evidence must yet be pccuicd bpfoie making sure of the actual murderer and if a large reward and free paidon were oflered they might bring to light an accomplice who did not take an active pait in the minder, but who knows all the detail?. It is stated by the relatives of Mr Pook that there must have been £200, mostly in ea^h, in the store. The funerals of Mr and Mrs Pook took place on Satin day at Waipiro and that ot the child at Oipborne ye&terctay. Tt is expected that the' men at restrd will be tried about Wednesday.