Supposed Murder.

New Zealand Police Gazette, Volume III, Issue 26, 17 December 1879, Page 223

Supposed Murder.

£350 Reward.

Whereas on the 6th of August, 1879, a man named George Vennell was missed from his home on the New Brighton Road, near Christchurch, and has not since been heard of: And whereas, from inquiries made, it is now believed that the said George Vennell has been murdered : Notice is hereby given that a reward of £lO0 —viz., £SO supplemental to that offered in notice dated 11th September last — will be paid to any person who shall give such information as will lead to the discovery of the missing man or his body ; and, in the event of a murder having been committed, a further reward of £250 will be given for such information as shall lead to the apprehension and conviction of the guilty party. In addition to the above rewards, His Excellency the Governor will be advised to extend a free pardon to any accomplice not being the person who actually committed the murder, and who shall first give such required information. Description of the missing man when last seen: Age, about sixty years; height, about 5 feet 5 or 6 inches; build, stout; hair and whiskers grey, the latter small, no moustache or beard,

nearly all the face being clean-shaved ; wore old faded peajacket, corduroy trousers, and usually a black billycock hat; an Englishman, a gardener. By order. H. E. Reader, Under Secretary, Constabulary Department. Armed Constabulary Office, Wellington, Ist November, 1879.

Particulars : On the 15th of August the police examined Vennell’B 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 tlie bouse, 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 11th and 14th August. He had about £9 in his possession on the sth of August, but no money has been found in the house. He separated about six months ago from his wife, who resided in Christchurch with her sou 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, has 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 bad been laid down there. A piece of brown paper, stained with blood, and which appears to have been used in wiping blood —probably from the hands —has been found in a gorse fence about a chain from the bouse. The circumstances go to show that Vennell has been murdered, and that bis body has been carefully concealed or otherwise disposed of.

Offer of Pardon to Accomplice in case of Murder. Department of Justice, Wellington, 9th September, 1879. Notice. —Whereas a person of the name of George Vennell, of New Brighton Road, near Christchurch, in the Provincial District of Canterbury, has mysteriously disappeared, and there are reasons for supposing that he may have been murdered by some person or persons unknown : Notice is hereby given that, should the said George Vennell have been murdered, His Excellency the Governor will grant a free pardon to any person implicated in such murder, except the actual murderer, who shall give such information as will lead to the apprehension and conviction of the murderer or murderers. John Sheehan.