Nantwich, Sandbach & Crewe Star — 1890-04-12 ()

BARBAROUS MURDER BY A KAFFIR.  The mail from South Africa brings further details of a terrible tragedy near Pretoria, where the body of a Kaffir was found in an unused shaft on the property of the Salisbury Extension Gold Mining Company. The removal of the body is thus described: A windlass having been erected, a Kaffir was lowered, and at once shouted up, "He's sewn in a sack." With some trouble the burden wati secured, and slowly hoisted. The sight, when it came to the top, was a most repulsive one. The body was brought up feet foremost, one foot and ankle protruding from the sack, which was clotted with blood. The appearance of the bundle at once gave rise to a conjecture among the crowd that the body had been cut up, as the position of the contents of the sack suggested that the corpse was in some way doubled. Inspection of it was deferred, all approach to the loathsome mass being prevented, not only by the police, but by the strong smell emanating from it, decay having taken place. The shaft is between 50 and 60 feet deep, and not in use. It is dry, and is protected with wirework, over which the culprit or culprits must have been at considerable pains to raise their burden. The murdered boy had been in the service of Mr. Robinson, Anderson-street, fora long time, and was a very steady and trustworthy servant. He was a Natal boy, and had saved up2B7, with which to return and get married. On the night of the murder, another Natal boy, named Jim, said to be the brother of the deceased, asked Mrs. Robinson if he could sleep with the deceased. After being assured that Jim was the brother of her boy and a steady Kaffir, Mrs. Robinson consented. This was in the early part of the day. Towards evening Jim was found to be worse for liquor, and Mrs. Robinson said she could not allow a drunken Kaffir to sleep in her kitchen. Jim, however, promised he would never do it again, so she allowed him to remain, The two boys lay down in the kitchen to sleep. In the morning Mrs. Robinson wanted her boy, but he was nowhere to be found. Jim, on being questioned, said he knew nothing about him. As the day wore on, and-the boy did not turn up, 'Jim was again smiled if he knew anything about his brother, He said "No," but thought he might have gone somewhere with some Kaffirs, but lie did not know. Next day Mrs. Robinson again questioned him about his brother's wnereabouta, when he said that some Kaffirs had murdered him and 'thrown him down a shaft. He piinted to one of the Salisbury Extension claims. Mrs. Robinson then went and spoke to the manager, but the sun having got to the westward the manager said that they had better wait till the morning, and look down when the sun was over the shaft. This was done, with the result that the body of the missing boy was found wrapped up in a sack. A piece of matting in Mrs. Robinson's kitchen, which was never missed before, was found against the kitchen irfoor outside. On examination it was found tobecovered with blood stains. The matting had been washed, but the marks still remain there. On examination the kitchen floor was found to be covered with blood stains, which had been washed, and there wero several handmarks on the wall and window frame. Suspicion at once fell upon Jim, and he was arrested, and when charged with the crime he said, "I murdered him, and don't care.'