Death Under Suspicious Circumstances.

Auckland Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2336, 11 September 1877, Page 3

Death Under Suspicious Circumstances.

A YOUNfJ person named Fanny Moore died on Sunday m Cook-street, under very suspicious circumstances, having two deeply discoloured eyes, and other evidences of having been brutally treated. A man is suspected of having committed the outrage. An inquest will be held on the body of the woman this afternoon, at the Criterion Hotel. The following are the main facts so far as we can elicit them before the .inquest:—lt was reported to the police yesterday that there was a woman lying dead in Cook-street, under mysterious circumstances, violence being stated to be the cause of death. Inquiries were at once made, and it was discovered that the deceased was a girl named Fanny Moore, who had been living with some man who had brutally ill-used her. The neighbours said that ou Tuesday last he kicked her down stairs, and otherwise badly treated her, and on Friday he repeated his brutality and gave her two black eyes, although she had been very ill from the effects of the former violence. On the body being examined, the police found the eyes discoloured, and several bruises in other places. A certificate giving the cause of death as flooding had been given, and it was intended to have had the funeral yesterday. The police, however, forbade anyone touching the body, and communicated with the coroner, who has ordered the inquest. The man who was living with the woman left for Taranaki by the Wanaka.

THE INQUEST|ON THE BODY. An inquest Avasheld this afternoon at the Criterion Hotel, Hobson-street, before Dr Philson, Goronefl, and a jury, on the body of Fanny Moore ;Mr P. B. Shalders foreman.

Sub-Inspector Pardy represented the police. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken : — Andrew Clarke, Sergeant of the Auckland Armed Constabulary, deposed that yesterday, the 10th instant, he was informed by a man named Charles Lyon that there was a woman lying dead in a house in Cook-stroet with two black eyes. He went tt the house, as indicated, occupied by Alfred Colwell. He saw the body lying in the same position as that in which the jury bad just viewed it. He made inquirie _, and learned that the black eyes had been caused by blows; he had known deceased for about ten years ; she was the wife of a sergeant in the Goth regiment. His name was Henry Moore. He went home to England, at least it was reported so. He had not been in Auckland for many years. She was an unfortunate, and had been living in the lowest localities ; she had been living Avith William Pote, who left on Friday last fo.i Taranaki ;he should think her age was about thirty-five ;he never knew- her to be in the hands of the police for any offence. Margaret King deposed that she was the wife ol John King, farmer, of Papakura ; she lived in Cook-street, in the house where deceased is lying. She rented the house. Alfred Colwell also lived there, but not cohabiting. They had been children together. He is not a lodger. De•eased was living in the same hou.se. Up to Friday the 7th inst., the man, William Pote, was living with her. She remembered Tuesday last, there was a disturbance between Pote and the woman ou that evening, but she did not know what the quarrel was about, she was standing at the back door with a child m her arms ; she saw Pote strike deceased, he gave her a back-handed blow, and she fell on some firewood in the yard.. She jumped to follow him, threw some gravel at him, when he struck her with his fist on the chest and knocked her down; he then walked out of the place again, she «ot up and attempted to follow him. Pote returned on Wednesday, the next day, quite drunk ; they both went out, and she returned at half-past seven o'clock. She kicked up a row, and she went to find Pote. Colwell then went after him, and found him drinking with some woman at the Greyhound, and persuaded him to come home; he had beat lier before he came home. At half-past twelve on Friday morning they quarrelled again, and be knocked her down, and said, "I will pay you off with a flying sheet." He then left for Tara-naki, and site saw- him no more. On Saturday »he seemed very downhearted, and went out with "a Mrs Cane. She returned in the evening, and complained •f being ill. She asked her what was wrong, and assisted her upstairs and put her to bed ; she cried a good deal about Bill Pote; she persuaded her to think no more about him. On Sunday morning she got ii]) and took breakfast with belaud ilrs Tildsley. She then read a book. In the evening she secimed to be worse, and was very shivery. She went for Dr Hooper, who came immediately. As she was very bad, she went for Rev. Mr Hassard, who came and prayed with her ; he called a second time. She died yesterday morning, a few minutes before six o'clock. Colvill did not knock the woman down on Saturday morning to her knowledge, nor did he put her out of the house. Ho told her that if she did not jjive up drinking she must clear out. She had bean drinkng for a fortnight. To the foreman : She had known deeeasecU-tght months. She was a woman of intemperate habfte. She was a person of delicate health, and bad been attended for some months by Dr Hooper. Alice Sarah Lamb, wife of Robert Lam o, boatman, saidshc was living in Albert-street with Henry Rodford. She would not deny it. She had known Fanny Moore eight years. She was at her house on Saturday morning at half-past one o'clock. She did not say why she came at that early hour, she let her ia ; she .stayed haif-an-hour, and went away alone. She heard subsequently, art halt-past nine o'clock", that there was a row at the hmi se where defeased lodged, when she and. Colwell were having a «pw a_id he was putting her tilings out of flic houso. Colwell took hold of lier, ami knocked her down the steps ; she saw Colwell strike hei tixree o_- four times, her head was hanging over the steps, and she assisted her "" up. She asked witness not to leave her, as she was her only remaining friend. In her struggle to protect Fanny, she tore Colwell'. coat. She called upon her ou Sunday evening

about half-past eight. Richard went with her, and sent for some beer, and, being a total - abstainer, a bottle of ginger-beer for himself. Fanny was sitting at the table, but lefused to take Deer. Fanny turned very white, and she asked witness to "come outside, as she wanted to speak to her," but she could not get out. She said to Maggie, " the woman is very bad." Maggie laughed, but she told her it was not a laughing matter ; she (deceased) said, "I am going to die, don't leave me." W-tness requested Maggie to get a doctor, and she went for Dr. Hooper, who came at once. She stayed with her until between eleven and twelve. The next morning Colwell came to witness's house, and commenced a step dance, saying that Fanny was dead. To "Mr Aitken, juryman: Maggie saw the struggle ; if she denies it she docs not state the truth. To the foreman: I never saw the deceased properly drunk. Shehised to drink. Amelia Cave, wife of John Cave, deposed that she lived in Chapel-street. She did not know deceased personally, only by her particular dress. She could see into the back yard of the house where deceased lived from her kitchen window. On Friday she heard a great noise, as of quarrelling, and believed that deceased was one of the persons.