MURDER IN CANTERBURY.

Colonist, Volume XXX, Issue 5024, 6 October 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

MURDER IN CANTERBURY.

[By Telegraph. J [P« United Press Association.] * CrjßisTCHbncH, October 4. A murder was committed at Little Eiver, on the verandah of Lake Forsyth Arms Hotel. Three Russian Finns working at Mr Coop's sawmill went to the hotel about nine o'clock. The men came in and stood there while a song was being suog, and then all three went into the dining-room, where they had some refreshments by themselves. Two of the men had words—the men's names were Matts Johansen, Nils Jacobson, and Andrew Heyman. After a'time, however, the quarrel seemed to cease, George Robinson (half-caste) having gone in to pacify them. They went out together at ten minutes to ten by the the front depr on to the verandah. A short time afterwards a man named Leon, on going out, saw a man lying on the verandah as he thought dead drunk, and the big Finn (Jacobson) standing a Bhort distance off ready for going away. Leon spoke to him, saying it was not right for him lo'leaye hia mate there drunk. The Finn replied in his own tongue, as Leon understood him to mean, to the effect that lm mate all right where he was.' Leon then went in, but shortly: after went out again with a man named Reay and a lad named Hitchens. Hitchens lib "a match and looked at the supposed drunken man, and holding it to his face noticed it was ghastly white. Then they noticed blood on his clothes. Looking further they found the clothes in places were saturated with blood from dreadful stabs, oue of which appeared to be right in the heart and the other in. the entrails just below the navel. They gave the' alarm", and it was ascertained' that [the man was dead. George Robinson saddled hw horse and started in pursuit of the big Finn; and overtook him some 200 yards from the hotel, and he went up to him with a bottle "saying, " Mate, have a drink," threw the man-quickly, beirjg afraid of his knife, and bound him with a strap. On the others coming up he was taken to tho lock-up. George' Robinson meanwhile was after the other Finn, whom he found between Jobbin's store and Coop's mill. This man came baok quietly also, and they were both locked up. Nothing was found on them but some matches and tobacco. There was a little knife.quite incapable of giving the stabs found on the smaller man, and there was a slight wound on the right band of the bigger man, but this might have been caused by hh falling on the ground. It was at. once decided to communicate with Akaroa. The telegrapher' called Akaroa, but' without avail, and then there was a difficulty in getting horses, It was getting on for three a.m when young Hitchens got away with news, and he reached Akaroa between six and seven a.m, and at once informed the police, who sent Constable Crockatt off to the River, The body was left where it was till the arrival of the constable. The inquest will be held at noon to-morrow. '■