That Mysterious Hand.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1783, 15 January 1886, Page 2

That Mysterious Hand.

FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. THE HAND TRACED TO MASTERTON. Last Sunday Detective O’Connor, of Christchurch, arrived at Wellington to make an investigation respecting the hand that was found at Bumuer, a watering place near Christchurch. Having had an idea the hand came irqiu Wellington the Christchurch police sent up the Detective, and on Monday he went to Masterton. He had with him a photograph of. the mysterious hand, and it appears that a clue has been obtained to the whole affair. The Post says the photo was shown among others to the relatives of the late Mrs Ruyner, an old settler of Masterton, and they, we are iuformed, at once came to the conclusion that the photo corresponded with the hand of their deceased relative, recognising it by a deep cut on the thumb, which is represented in the photograph, and also by other marks, which correspond with those on the deceased lady’s hand, The detectives had the Igoal newspaper files turned up, and there found that Mrs Rayner had died shortly before the severe! hand was discovered at Sumner. Howard left Wellington about Ibis cime.

Latest intelligence states that the Colonial Secretary has signed and forwarded a warrant for the examination of Mrs liayner's body. The police are inclined to the belief that the hand is that of a man, who was buried in the Wellington cemetery on IHth December, and this corpse will also be exhumed. There is quite a sensatioh in Masterldu uVer the affair. Howard, it is said, tried hard to get on good terms with Mr Jago, the under, taker there, and several of his acts led to sitsnicions as to his motives. He is reported to have ottered one man i'JO if lie would assist in opening the grave of one individual. In connection wi£h Mrs Eaynet’s grave, the sexton says that he did not quite fill in her grave i|U the day of burial; uext day he found it doiiw, gnd (|e supposed the relatives had done it. • •.,V,umcd. It is hoped that the body will be.,If It is found that the grave has be epeued ami the hand severed from the body and earned to Canterbury, the piot is one of the most villainous thqt has occurred in the Australasian oolouiea.