SUPPOSED MURDER OF HUGH A. HAMILTON

Auckland Star, Volume XVI, Issue 3851, 19 December 1882, Page 3

SUPPOSED MURDER OF HUGH A. HAMILTON

Yesterday's Humoun

AS we surmised in our la3t issue, tbo lumour which was cuneut about town yesterday apropos of a con ession on the part of Mrs Hamilton was entirely without foundation. The fact is all the wore singular inasmuch as it was told with all the plausibility of tiuth. It spread like wildfire, and in same quarters it was given ia a more elabjrato form than in others—but afl agreeing in the main incidents. Tho moat patticularised version -was that Hamilton's sister had visited Mrs Hamilton in the gaol, and bavins obtained fiotn her an admission to the elfect that t'ho had poisoned her iufant, while Priestley had murdered tho father, had reported the same to the Clerk of the Court. la consequence of it Mr Theo. Cooper paid a visit to the gaol, saw his client, and found that tbo rumour was without any grounds whatever, bho is now in a composed fiamo of nind, aud asserts her entire innocence of the crime imputed to h«r. Mr Coop-r is well assured , tout a cood defenco can be established. '

lhe Arrest Anticipated,

It is well known now that the prisoners anticipated thoir arrest fully a week before it was made, so that they were by no means taken by surprise. In fact Pi ie.tlcy infoimed the boys of Uis Sunday-school class on Sunday week that he would probably torch them no longc, and that afterneon he clossd the ichool with prayer. Acting upon this prior knowledge it is shrewdly conjectured (as we have previously remarked) that both [prisoners hud taken legal advice,' and tbat this accounts for thoir reticence.

Ifn Exlmmatlon,

Mr Superintendent Thomson lias received a telegram fiom the- Colonial Kecretaty informing biui that the license applied for under the Cemeteries Act to autho i-:o the exhumation of the bodies of the Hamiltons (father and child) has been made out aud despatched by tho ttotoiua, which arrives here on Friday. Superintendent Thomson, however, intends to sco iho Presbyterian Cemeieiy Tru3teo3 at once, in order to ascertaia whether, in view of the granting of tbe license, thsy have any objection to the disinterment taking place to-morrow. In all probability tho requited permission will be cheerfully riven, as notbjug is to be gained by delay, A Further Remand Necessary.

It is now pretty certain that the polic 0 will not be prepared to go on with tha cas° on Friday next, and a further rimend fo eight days will be applid for. It is anticipated, however, that i) iiisonera will be fully committed for trial ;> 'me for the next criminal sessions pf t i Supremo Court, which do not open mti\ 17th of Jauuary. The Bedstead against which Hamilton is alleeed ft have fallen and received his fatal injuries, is now at tho detoctives' room at the tolice , Station, and it certainly prcscntn jjo projections which aio at all likely to causo tho wound which the poor fellow died fn.m. Tho place I where the impact is said to have Uken place could hardly by any possibility have made such an oritico In the skull aa that described bj tho doctor*, and thero is no vestigo of blood about it It Is n small and low bed»tead of a very common tjpo.

Exhuming the Bodies.At 4.15 thiß afternoon we were informed that-the necessary leave to disinter had been gained, and consequently tho bodies will be exhnmed to-morrow, when Vi. Uoldsbro' will at once proceed with the intended post mortem examination.