A most mysterious affair has occurred at Lake Ohau, near Oamaru. Two station hands, named Hannah and Cunningham, on the 25th ult. were sent across in a boat for a load of chaff. Not returning within three days, a search party was instituted, resulting in the discovery of the boat with chaff, oars, &c, strewed along the shore; and inside the boat was the body of Hannah, bearing three bruises on the head. Those who found the body assert the neck was dislocated, and that the murder had been committed by Cunningham, who cannot be found, though every search was made. -Tuapeka Times, 4/12/1875.
It will be remembered that in November last a man named Hugh Hannah was found dead at Lake Ohau, Otago, having apparently met his death by violence. An individual named Martin Cunningham was the last person seen in company with deceased, and, as he absconded on the day of the supposed murder, the police authorities of Dunedin now offer a reward of £100 for any information that will lead to his apprehension. -Evening Post, 7/1/1876.
WELLINGTON.
Per Press Telegram Agency. This day.
The police have arrested a man on suspicion of being Martin Cunningham, charged with the murder of his mate, Hugh Hannah, at Lake Ohau, on the 25th November, 1875. He has been remanded for eight days. -Auckland Star, 10/1/1876.
Messrs Wrigglesworth & Binns have taken an excellent portrait of the prisoner William Phillips, who is supposed to be the Lake Ohau murderer. Phillips expressed his entire willingness to have the portrait taken, and it will be forwarded to Dunedin, where the murderer is well known. -Evening Post, 11/1/1876.
SUSPECTED OP BEING A MURDERER.
William Phillips was also charged with the murder of Hugh Hannah, at Lake Ohau, in the province of Otago, on the 25th of November, 1875.
Dennis Ryan, constable, stationed at Porirua, deposed on oath: Having received certain information on Saturday last, I proceeded to Pahautanui, and thence to Wainui, where I found prisoner in the employ of a farmer named Alex. Mackay. I told him that I was a police constable, that a man answering his description was wanted, and that I wished him to answer a few questions which I should put to him. I asked him where he came from last. He said he had come from the South Island — from Otago. I asked him what part of Otago, and he replied that he had been on the Hogburn and Dunstan. I then asked him if he had ever been at Gabriel's Gully or Waipori. He replied in the affirmative. I then asked him if he had ever been on Lake Ohau. Immediately I put this question, he said, "What's up? Is any one murdered?" Prisoner further said, in answer to questions which I put to him, that he arrived in Otago eleven or twelve years ago; that he arrived at Port Chalmers in the King of Italy; that he was a sailor, but had been working on the diggings, at sheep stations, and cutting wood. He would give me no account of how he was engaged in November last. I read the charge over to him, also the description, and examined his arms, whereon I found marks corresponding exactly to those mentioned as being on the arms of the missing man Cunningham. Prisoner first said he was an American, then that he was an Englishman, and lastly that he was an Irishman. The prisoner was remanded for a week. -NZ Mail, 15/1/1876.
THE LAKE OHAU AFFAIR.
The case of the map Phillips is a somewhat remarkable one. Our readers are familiar with the circumstances under which he was apprehended and regained in custody on the suspicion that he was Cunningham, the supposed murderer of Hannah, at Lake Obau. The evidence of identity at first appeared to be very strong. Two men in Dunedin, on being shown the photograph of Phillips, declared positively that it was that of Cunningham. Then, Cunningham was a half-caste; so was Phillips. Cunningham was of middle size and stout built; so was Phillips. Cunningham had peculiar tattoo marks on his right arm; so had Phillips. All this, coupled with the fact that Phillips asked (before he was informed what the charge against him was) whether “anybody had been murdered,” let the police to believe, that they had got the right man. And yet, after all, it turned out that Phillips was not Cunningham at all; because not only was positive evidence received from Christchurch to that effect, but it had also been discovered, that at the time when the supposed murder was committed in Otago, Phillips was actually resident in the Wellington Province. This case shows what strange chance resemblances may exist between two different persons, and how positively some people will make statements which afterwards turn out to be totally unfounded. It also shows how little reliance can be placed upon a written description of features and marks; the police handbills and comparing the description given of Cunningham with that of Phillips the similarity was remarkable, and yet if the two men could have been placed side by side, their totally different general appearance would, probably have been at once manifest. As the case stands Philips has been discharged, cleared of all suspicion of the murder. His case deserves some sympathy. It is not pleasant for a man to be locked up for some, three weeks under suspicion of murder, when conscious of innocence. — 'Post’ -Evening Star, 29/1/1876.
MORE ABOUT THE LAKE OHAU MYSTERY.
From the "Wellington Evening Post" of the 25th January, we extract the following, from the proceedings in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on that day: —
PHILLIPS THE WRONG MAN.
William Phillips, who was arrested some time ago, on suspicion of being one Martin Cunningham, the Lake Ohau Otago murderer, was again brought up.
Inspector Atcheson said he had received a communication from the police at Christchurch, to the effect that the photograph of William Phillips was not that of the Martin Cunningham who was wanted; the photograph had been shown to several persons who knew Cunningham perfectly well, and they were unanimously of the opinion that Phillips was not the same; moreover, it had been proved beyond a doubt that Phillips was in this Province when the murder was committed in Otago; considering that Phillips had been so long in custody, he (Inspector Atcheson) would withdraw the other charge on which the prisoner had been remanded, namely, that of using threatening language towards Mr Bould.
His Worship — I am glad that you are not guilty of the more serious charge.
Phillips — I wish to say a few words to your Worship. I have been brought here for a horrible offence — that of murder — which leaves a stain on my character. I have not now the "face" to go among the friends I have been among in order to seek a living, and I hope your Worship will deal with me as lightly as you can for the charge that Mr Bould brought against me, so that I may be able soon to have a chance of earning a living.
His Worship: I have already told you that that charge is withdrawn. With regard to the other matter, I can only say that, unfortunately, your general appearance, and the tattoo marks on your arms, answered the description of Cunningham so well, that it is not at all to be wondered at that you were detained in custody. You also made certain statements when you were arrested that led to the inference that you were guilty. Now, however, there is no charge against you.
Phillips: My friends will always remember what I have been charged with, and I shall be ashamed to look in their faces.
His Worship: You are discharged. -North Otago Times, 1/2/1876.
Phillips, hopefully went on to lead his life. Cunningham, it seems, remained elusive. There was an arrest in Lyttelton and one in Sydney of men who were not the murderer.
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