Murder at Eketahuna

Woodville Examiner, Volume VIII, Issue 870, 12 February 1892, Page 3

Murder at Eketahuna

(Per Press Association.) Masterton, This Day. A man named Delton was found murdered at Eketahuna this morning. No particulars are yet to hand. BODY IDENTIFIED. MAN HORRIBLY MUTILATED. ROBBERY THE MOTIVE. CONSTABLE ROCHE IN PURSUIT OF MURDERER. Special to the Examiner, Eketahuna, This Day. A man unknown was found on the road early this morning murdered Deceased was seen fighting with another man, a stranger, at midnight. Later. From enquiries made it is found that the murdered man was found about 8 o’clock this morning by the brothers Smith lying on the side of the Alfredton road about 100 yards from the road. At first they thought he was drunk, but on close examination they saw a wound in his neck. He was not dead, but was breathing heavily, as if in great pain.

Constable Roche w'as sent for,

On liia arrival the man was taken to the Town Hall, and the wound in his neck sewn up. The man still remained unconscious, and the wound in the neck not appearing to be of a dangerous nature a further examination of the body was made, 'with the result that a wound, was found in his left side, the entrails protruding. It had evidently been done with a large knife. A few moments after the discovery of the second wound the man expired. He never regained consciousness sufficient to explain the occurrence. It is reported that the unfortunate man had been grass-seed cutting at Alfredtown was known to have a considerable sum of money last night. On the body being searched no money was found. Active search is being made for the murderers. Tw’o men were seen apparently fighting with the deceased at about 2 a.m. From the voices they appeared to be Foreign. Constable Roche and Detective Herbert are making a strict search of the neighborhood for them. Masterton, this afternoon.

The body at Eketahuna has been "identified as that of J. Dalton, of the Upper Hutt. He was seen leaving with two other men, and Constable Eoche has started in pursuit of the latter.