THE HAND MYSTERY.

Waipawa Mail, Volume IX, Issue 880, 14 January 1886, Page 3

THE HAND MYSTERY.

[Per United Press Association.] Wellington, Wednesday. A telegram received from Masterton this evening states that statement re the proposed exhumation of the body of Mr Rayner is quite correct. It is said the severed hand is in Masterton, in charge of Detective O’Connor, who is from Christchurch. All the facts are being kept secret, in order to capture the local accomplices of Howard. It is expected that further developements of the case will be made tomorrow, when full particulars will be published. Some further evidence is repotted as having been discovered relative to the severed hand. Detective Connor, of Christchurch, with a photograph in his possession, is on a visit to the Wairarapa, where Howard was for some time working. The photo was seen by the son-in-law of A. T. Rayner, who died, and was buried about November 25. lie immediately assert, d he recognised the hand, and upon showing the photo to other relatives, th -y were almost certain it was a picture of Rayner’s hand. Ho had suffered from erysipelas, and there was a scar on the thumb. Application was made to exhume the body, but some difficulty cropped up, and it has not been dona j'et, being holiday time. The grave was loosely filled in at first, and it is supposed that Howard had little difficulty in breaking open the side of the cofiin. These particulars are given by the son-in-law of Rayner.