MURDER.

Canterbury Police Gazette, Volume V, Issue 20, 15 October 1867, Page 130

MURDER.

On the 13th February the body of a man was found buried near an old unoccupied hut at Buckanui Creek, between Enys’ station, Castle Hill, and Cragieburn. From the evidence adduced at an inquest held on the 26th February, and adjourned until the 12th March next, there is no doubt but the man was murdered on or about the 6th February. Eight distinct wounds were found on the head, evidently inflicted by a sharp instrument A small sized axe blood-stained—a pair of old moleskin trousers, with a patch on the outside of right knee, and another on inside of left knee ; a pair of new moleskin trousers, a shepherd plaid Crimean shirt, and a tin billy, supposed to be a portion of a gentleman’s portable cooking apparatus, containing a tea bag, an old towel, a piece of flannel, a piece of soap, and half a comb, were found buried near the body, and further off, a reddish coloured sac coat, a brown billycock hat, and a plain cotton checked shirt, blood-stained were found rolled up and concealed. About half-a-mile from where the body was found and where some fifteen Chinamen camped about the 6th February on the way from Hokitika to Otago, .a pair of brown colored Chinese trousers, stained with what appears to be marks of blood were found ; also an old 501 b. flour bag.

The deceased appeared to be from 30 to 35 years of age, 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high ; high open forehead, medium build, well made, small feet and hands ; fair complexion, brown hair, whiskers and moustache, inclined to red, beard worn under chin, hair short on back of head; teeth rather large, but even, first double tooth on right side of jaw wanting; an inside flannel shirt, and a shepherd plaid Crimean shirt, similar to the one discovered buried, was found on the body. It is supposed the remains are those of a man known as “ Jim,” and who was seen travelling in company with the Chinese who camped near the scene of the murder, on or about the 6th instant. Jim had articles of clothing in his possession similar to those found concealed, and also the following articles, which have not as yet been recovered: — a pair of double grey blankets with two holes worn about the centre; a single blue blanket, a fine blue cloth frock or sac coat and waistcoat, nearly new; a tin billy with one of the “ lugs ” broken, and a piece of telegraph wire for a handle. The Chinese crossed the Waitaki on the 16th Feb. into the Otago Province. Two of them spoke English fluently and wore European clothing.