The Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle

Monday Morning, April 25, 1868

An Examination of the body of James Smith shows that his skull was smashed by heavy blows from some blunt weapon. A belt, containing an empty revolver case was strapped round the waist. The pistol was evidently stolen. From the appearance of the locality and the remains, we think the man was decoyed to the spot by ruffians aware of his wealth, and suppoosed he carried it about his person, sot down and beat on the head with stones until dead. Smith was an Irishman by birth, and resided in a room on Fisgard street near Store. He left the house on the 9th of February last, and was no seen again until his mutilated body was found in the brush.