BRUTAL DOUBLE MURDER UP THE COAST.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 232, 8 December 1888, Page 2

BRUTAL DOUBLE MURDER UP THE COAST.

MR AND MRS POOK ASSASSINATED. TOMAHAWKED TO DEATH. THIRD MURDER ATTEMPTED THE CHILD SURVIVES. (From our Special Edition, Friday, Dec. 7.)

By the steamer Australia which arrived this morning from the Coast information was received of two of the most brutal and cowardly assassinations that we can remember having occurred in New Zealand, Mr and Mrs Pook having been foully murdered by some at present unknown miscreant and his tomahawk. The horrible affair occurred about 45 or 50 miles from the telephone station, and therefore particulars are not easily obtainable, but a letter from Mr A. H. Wallis, manager of Mr Williams’ station gives very full information. Mr Pook lately took over the Tokomaru Hotel, but he lives at Mataahu, twelve miles further on. He had called at Waipiro at seven in the evening on his way home. From the circumstantial evidence it would then appear that when he got home he had been serving a customer in the shop which adjoins the dwelling-house, the unknown customer being the murderer. Pook seemingly got off his horse (which was found next morning with the saddle and bridle on just as he would have left it) and went into the shop. He had made up a small parcel, handed it over the counter, and had made up a slip with the cost. He appeared to have been conning over the slip when the murderer launched out at him across the counter with his tomahawk. Mrs Pook must have heard the scuffling and run into the shop to see what was the matter, when the horrible hound turned on her and likewise killed her with the tomahawk. The child—a little boy—then appears to have followed the mother, and the brutal murderer tomahawked the little fellow and left him for dead. The child, however, was not killed outright. The little fellow was brought to Gisborne this morning, and now lies at Dr Pollen’s house in a very dangerous condition. At present nothing is known as to the whereabouts of the murderer, or what earthly excuse he can assign for his foul deeds. Mr Booth, Sergeant Bullen, and Dr Pollen left for the Coast this morning. LATER. We have since received information to the effect that a Maori (supposed to be one of the assassins) has been captured, and that Mr McClutchy saw two other Maoris and a halfcaste, supposed also to be concerned in the crime, washing their clothes of what was believed to be blood. The boy is not expected to recover. Mr Pook when found was lying on the floor with hie head split open, and the body of Mrs Pook was found lying across that of her husband, with her head split open, and her throat cut from ear to ear. The empty cash box was found alongside the bodies. General Comments.

There was the most intense excitement in town yesterday when the special edition of the Standard was issued, copies of which were distributed gratis. Our office, indeed, was flocked with people eager to obtain copies until nearly one o’clock. The most dreadful nature of the crime, and the suddenness of the transmission of the news, caused the most painful sensation. In the sense of the security which had been felt over the whole Coast district, the use of the once dreaded tomahawk of the savage would be the last possibility that would have been feared or even dreamt of. Added to this painful source of interest there were in town many thoughtless or malicious busy-bodies making the affair appear in an even more horrible light—which God knows is quite bad enough for the most heartless—by circulating stories for which there was not the slightest foundation. At present there is that shadow of mystery about the affair which is naturally consequent on scanty information; but there is quite sufficient known to make the crime appear the most brutal and shocking that we can remember having occurred in New Zealand. The Caffrey and Penn atrocities have no comparison to this, for they were done out of a kind of bravado, and gained for the perpetrators a small amount of sympathy and admiration from people utterly lost in depravity or else half idiots. But in this affair no extenuating circumstance appears possible, and from information to hand it seems an assured fact that the hand that wielded the tomahawk in its fiendish purpose was that of a semi-savage, with accomplices of an equally cruel and heartless nature. It is enough to make anyone shudder and turn sickly to write of it; what then must it be to have seen the horribly mangled victims? Be they black or be they white, hanging is too light a punishment for such bloodhounds. We wait most anxiously for further details, and nothing could satisfy □s more under the circumstances than to hear that the bloodstained villain or villains have been clenched in the avenging grip of Justice. We certainly do not agree with the theory that the murders were occasioned by a desire for plunder—we think a spirit of malice a more likely reason, and that the robbery was an after thought. Possibly Mr Pook refused to allow credit to the purchaser of the parcel, and this perhaps led to a frenzied attack on him, If plunder were the primary object it is a most unlikely thing that a time when Mr Pook had just arrived would have been chosen, and the facts appear clear on this point. Indeed consideration of present information is altogether opposed to the theory that plunder was the main object.

An Interview with. Captain Nicholas. AN ALARMING STATEMENT. THREATENING THE POOKS—IS IT A CONNECTING LINK? In reference to the murders one of our reporters had an interview with Captain Nicholas, master of the schooner Waiapu, from whom information was elicited, which, if, it has no direct bearing on the recent crimes, is of an alarming nature, and proves that after all some of the Coast natives are not freed of their barbaric dispositions, and also that Mrs Pook was an exceptionally

brave woman, and behaved gallantly where many a man would have quailed with fear. On his last trip up the Coast, a few weeks back. Captain Nicholas had in his vessel a package consigned to a half-caste, but contained in the package there were articles intended for various other natives. The halfcaste promised to send the freight money down to Gisborne, but this he failed to do, so the package was taken up, and the freight demanded before Captain Nicholas released his control over it. After some talk it was agreed that the package should be left at Pook’s store, and that freight could be collected there before the package was handed over, the Pooks thus conferring a great favor upon the natives. But what was their recompense? After the schooner had departed the ungrateful wretch of a half caste went and demanded the package, in a very threatening way. Being refused a large number of the other natives took up the cause, and threatened to smash the house and all it contained into shapes that would not lead to their further recognition if the package was not instantly handed over to them, freight or no freight. Tuta Nihoniho b~ i’ particularly marked, was also one who went and demanded the package, but Mrs Pook held out in spite of the threats, though, as she afterwards told Captain Nicholas, she was afraid of receiving injury, and having her house broken into by the natives. After much trouble and anxiety she took a small sum on account and let the natives have the package, fearing that if this were not done the threats would take a violent practical form. The above may or may not have anything to do with the recent occurrence, but if, as stated, Tuta Nihoniho conducted himself in this way, the matter should not be allowed to Tologa Special. [Standard Special Correspondent.] Tologa Bay, Yesterday. Nothing is known here with regard to the terrible double murder, but what we have heard from Gisborne, per the steamer. The sad news cast quite a gloom over this township, as Mr and Mrs Pook were well known and highly respected in Tologa. Constable Ryan left this morning for the scene of the murders.

The Victims. Mr Pook, whose untimely death and the Circumstances relating thereto are as above recorded, was well known and highly respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances in Gisborne and on the Coast, but it is in the Waikato and Raglan, where he spent the happy years of boyhood and youthful manhood, that hia said fate will cause intense sorrow. Respectfully connected he spent some time on the great station of Messrs Studholm and Russell, extending a distance of 9640 miles from the Waikato heads to Raglan, and only a short time previous to his coming to this district he got married. His wife was a niece of Mr and Mrs Charlton. Mr Charlton carried on a large wholesale and retail business as storekeepers and stationholders in Kawhia, and in his day, was one of the most respected men in the colony—but he had to leave his home when the war broke out in the Waikato in 1862 and 63. Mr Charlton died before the war had ended, and his wife afterwards wound up the business and retired to Raglan, occasionally visiting Onehunga and Auckland. The subsequent Mrs Pook was then a mere child and mostly resided with her aunt. Since she came to reside on the East Coast her kindness and hospitality to all travellers was much appreciated and she was always glad to see and welcome anyone calling at her place. Mrs Pook has a brother on Mr Williams’ station at Waipiro, who on account of his steady habits is a great favorite With Mr Wallis, the manager. Unfortunately the store occupied by Mr Pook was remarkable for the number of times it was entered at night, and robbed. At one time about 1883-4, it was occupied by Mr Seon, and a large sum of money (£84) was taken out of the safe. The safe was carried down and broken open on the papa rock near low water mark. In April or May last the store was entered at night, when Mr Pook was in Auckland, and although there was fully £90 in the store the burglatious ruffians did not succeed in discovering the cash box. A few days afterwards a native (supposed to be one of the murderers) was arrested after a diligent search by Sergeant Villers and the native constable. He was brought before Mr Booth, R.M., and Mr Wallis, J.P., at Waipiro and charged with the offence, but the R.M. did not think the evidence sufficiently strong to commit him for trial, although it was said he was advised by a gentleman then in Waipiro to do so Evidently the gentleman refused to entertain doubts as to the accused's innocence. It would have been a fortunate circumstance perhaps had he been committed, and a jury probably might, by their verdict, have prevented this atrocious crime, at least for a time.