MYSTERY AT DUCK’S CAMP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3683, 19 November 1912, Page 7

MYSTERY AT DUCK’S CAMP.

MAN FOUND DEAD AFTER DRUNKEN ORGY

A WOMAN'S REVOLTING

STORY.

STUMBLED OVER THE BODY WHEN SHE GOT UP.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] AUCKLAND, Nov. 18. Buck’s Camp, situated midway between Henderson and Swanson, nas, during the past week-end, oeen the scene of a- drunken orgy culminating in the death of a man named Harry Whitesides. A “Star” representative this morning visited the camp. The central habitation of the camp is a galvanised iron house occupied by a Spaniard. It is surrounded by numerous wliares and shanties occupied by people who are ostensibly gumdiggers. This morning

it was apparent that a--number of residents had been indulging in a serious drinking bout- during the past- few days. In the first whare visited were several men and women, all bearing evidence of hard drinking. Timm were women dishevelled in appearance and among the men more than one showed bruises and scars indicative of hard knocks.

The pressman was possibly being taken for a- policeman, and was immediately informed that there had been “murder.” He- was taken to a miserable little whare -where a man lay dead on the floor. The body was twisted in an extraordinary position between the bed and the fireplace and was lying face downwards, the feet protruding to the doorway. A woman volunteered a statement here that there had been considerable carousing and yesterday a two-gallon keg of wine was brought to the camp. During Sunday there had been some fighting and at night a disturbance occurred in her whare, throe men and a woman, in addition to herself, being present-. In a scuffle which took place the light 'was overturned and extinguished. She proceeded to push everybody outside and when she thought they had all none she closed and locked the door. The sneaker admitted that they were all drunk and that she remembered nothing more until she awoke this morning Kind heard someone knocking at- the door.

Getting up she stumbled over something which she thought was a dog and proceeded to kick it out- of the way. It did not- move, and stooping down she felt the body of Whiteside, which was numb and* cold. She ran outside screaming and others in the camp answered her calls. “There has been murder and that woman there,” she said, pointing to her companion, “knows who dealt the blow.”

The woman indicated was in an even worse state physically than the person making the statement. The second woman admitted that she had been having such a spree that she’had noclear recollection of what happened beyond the fact- that she and ’Whitesides had been dancing together and that afterwards there had been a squabble. The occupants of the camp knew sufficient to refrain from interfering with the body pending the arrival of the police. When about mid-day Detective Hammond and Constable Reed had driven across from Avondale they found the body in tlie same twisted and distorted position face downwards and covered with a sheet. On an examination being made it was found that the man’s face was in a pool of blood and his features wore blackened and distorted beyond recognition.

It is possible that- the injuries to Whiteside’s face were received as he fell for a heavy iron from the fireplace was Iviusr close beside his head.

Until a nest mortem examination is made i+ will Pp impossible to snv whether Whiteside roAIv received his iniuries in n huswl or whether in falling he struck his fa r -e on the fireplace.