ALLEGED MURDER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 2 December 1926, Page 5

ALLEGED MURDER.

LABOURER DONE TO DEATH. AN ARREST MADE. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) GISBORNE, Wednesday. 'Shortly before 11 o’clock to-night the Gisborne police received information that a labourer named Jerry Williams had been found murdered at Torerc, eighteen miles from Oj>otiki, at 4 p.m. to-day. A man named John Sullivan was arrested by Sergeant. Ferguson at 9.40 to-night on suspicion. BODY FOUND IN SCRUB. AUCKLAND, Wednesday. Telephoned advice Prom Opotiki shortly before midnight stated that the murder was committed near Torere, IS miles from Opotiki, at 4 o’clock this afternoon. The victim was Jerry Williams, aged about 45 years. It is stated that he left Opotiki in a taxi with John Sullivan, aged 6.0 years, at 3 o’clock this afternoon, and travelled two miles past Torero. Williams's body was found in the scrub two chains past the spot where the taxi had stopped. His head was badly battered. Sullivan was arrested on a charge of murder. BOTH MEN INTOXICATED. OPOTIKI, This Day. Details in connection with the tragedy show that the two men had been working together for the past four months. Both were in town yesterday morning, and were taken to Torerc yesterday afternoon, bbth being intoxicated. On receipt of the news of the tragedy the police hurried to the scene and found Williams dead in the scrub two chains from where they were dropped. Williams’s' head was terribly smashed, and part of the skull is missing. Bloodstained bottles were strewn around, with a full bottle of rum and a full bottle of beer. Both were bloodstained, and patches of blood on the road indicated the the victim tried to run away, and was finally dragged into the scrub. Sullivan had a bottle of whisky in his hand when arrested, and was talking wildly. He is alleged to have said to Mr Drake, the postmaster at Torere: “I’ve killed my mate.” but lie denied the killing when arrested. Accused will be formally charged with, murder to-day.