THE SUPPOSED MURDER OF ROBERT STREETER.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 481, 17 July 1890, Page 2

THE SUPPOSED MURDER OF ROBERT STREETER.

THE BODY DISCOVERED IN A HOLE. CORONER’S INQUEST TO BE HELD TO-DIY OB TO MORROW. WAITING FOR THE OPINION OF THE DOCTOR. DECOMPOSITION OF THE BODY. News was received last night, by Sergeant Carlvon, by telephone from Ormond, confirming the suspicions entertained iu regard to the supposed murder of Robert Streeter. Constable Law had ridden down to Ormond, from Whatatutu, and telephoned the information that the body of Streeter had been found yesterday in a hole. Thi message gave no particulars as to whether the body bore evidence of foul play, but the man having beeen so long dead it was probably in such an advanced stats ot decomposition that no one but a medical man would care to pronounce an opinion, and that not without careful examination, whether there had been foul play. AU the surrounding circumstances, however, tend to prove that a foul crime has been committed, and no great difficulty ia anticipated in regard to the sheeting hsme of the charge. Those who went out in search of the body deserve credit for the expeditions way in which they set to work, and it was rather a matter of surprise that the body was so soon discovered. It was feared that it might have been put into a hole in some creek, and then have been silted over by the freshes that have been caused by the continuous rains during the last few months.

There are so many ways in which the body might have been disposed of in the long period of time that elapsed that more than ordinary difficulty might have been expeoted. Mr Booth will probably go out tbit morning, together with the doctor, and a Coroner’s inquest will be held. As soon as the medical officer has made an examination the chain ot evidence against ths murderer, whoever he may be, should soon bs fitted together. The man William Black, who has been arrested on the charge, is now taking things philosophically in the Gisborne gaol, tbs charge against him bring set down for Monday next. Whether or not he was informed of tha discovery ot the body we did not ascertain last night, Mr V. G. Day conducts the defense of Black. A silly report was circulated yesterday afternoon to the effect that Streetrr had hanged himself from a tree. It was repeated so often that many people brgan to believe that there was really some truth iu it, but like ths hundred and one fictitious talcs that by some mysterious means found birth, the thing turns out to have been a sham. We have received much further information concerning tbs suspicious circumstances, but it is perhaps better left unused until the body is examined, and there ia something definite to go upon. The report that money had been left to the family, proves to bavs been founded on an advertisement enquiring as to tha whsraaboms ot Mrs btreeer—it may have been nothing more than a friend who had known her ia better days. A strange coincidence in connection with the discovery of the body is that yesterday more than one woman informed the police 'hat she bad dreamt Streeter’s body bad been found in a hole.