Supposed Murder.

New Zealand Police Gazette, Volume III, Issue 19, 10 September 1879, Page 163

Supposed Murder.

George Vennell, who lately lived alone at New Brighton Road, near the River Avon, about four miles from Christchurch, is missing from his home since the 6th ultimo, and it is believed was murdered in his house there during that night. Description : English, a gardener, sixty years of age, about 5 feet 5 or 6 inches high, stout build, grey hair, clean-shaved except small grey whiskers ; wore old faded pea-jacket, corduroy trousers, and usually a black billycock hat, but all his hats have been found in his house. Particulars : On the 15th ultimo the police examined Yennell’s house, and found a pane of glass broken in the kitchen window, a number of shot holes in the wall opposite the broken pane, and several small spots of blood on the wall and furniture. The table was found laid as if for tea, and a pot containing meat was on the fireplace. The following property is missing from the house, namely : A pair of new white blankets, a pair of sheets, marked “ Vennell, No. 5, 1876,” and “Vennell, No. 6, 1876;” a kerosene lamp with coloured delf globe, a small common money-box with two slits in lid, a mahogany box, about 6 by 4 by 2 inches, lid inlaid with mother-

of-pearl; a black mackintosh coat, and a pair of reins. Some of the articles missing were seen in the house on the lltli and 14th ultimo. He had about £9 in his possession on the sth ultimo, but no money has been found in the house. He separated about six months ago from his wife, who resided in Christchurch with her son by a former husband, between whom and the missing man great enmity existed. Some pieces of an old blanket which belonged to Vennell were found by the police in the river near his house, and the result of an analysis goes to show that they are stained with what is believed to be human blood, and were, it is supposed, used in cleaning the house after the man was murdered. A large stain of human blood, supposed about a quart, lias been found on a sandhill about 150 yards from Vennell’s house, and the sand at the place presented the appearance as if the body of a man had been laid down there. A piece of brown paper, stained with blood, and which appears to have been used in wiping probably from the handshas been found in a gorse fence about a chain from the house. The circumstances go to show that Vennell has been murdered, and that his body has been carefully concealed or otherwise disposed of.