THE MURDER CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 99, 27 April 1889, Page 5

THE MURDER CASE.

PAYET COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

The charge against Louis Payet for the murder of the woman Mary Ann Wilson was continued yesterday. The following is the finish of the evidence :—

Michael Foley, licensee of the Avondale Hotel at Avondale, deposed to knowing the accused and the woman Wilson. He' Only saw them once. He saw them on the Wednesday before the alleged assault, i.e., 3rd instant. They were at his hotel between 10 and 11 o'clock, where they had a couple of glasses of beer each. The woman left the hotel and the accused a little before her. Ha returned and asked witness if he had seen his wife. Witness replied that he had not. Prisoner searched for her, but could not find her. Accused gave witness a parcel to take charge of. This parcel he handed over to Detective Hughes. He saw the prisoner cutting tobacco in the bar with a clasp knife. It was a very long, knife with a long blade.

Constable Kenny, stationed at Auckland, deposed to knowing the accused and the accused woman. He remembered being on duty at the corner of Pitt and Greystrests about 20 minutes to 12 on the night of the Bth inst. He heard a woman's voice screaming down Grey-street. He went down to see what was up, and he saw the deceased sitting on tho footpath and the prisoner trying to get her along. Witness asked what was the matter. . Prisoner replied that he was trying to get Mary Ann home, as she was living as his wife with him at Waikomiti. He said she had a drop of drink in her and wanted to stay in tosvn. Payet v/as quite sober, but the deceased was rather under the influence of liquor, but was able to walk. Witness told her that if she did not get up out of that he would take her to the lockup. She replied, " I do not care whether you do or not; you can lock me up if you like." Prisoner said, "Oh, no; do not lock her up ; she is able to walk home with me." She said, "He is very nice before . you ; but when he gets me home he knocks me about and does all sorts of things, and he will do for

me one of these days." Witness asked the woman why he used her in such a manner and she said she did not know. Prisoner said, " Oh, I never knock her about; she is a very good woman." She replied, "You are a coward and scoundrel." She shortly afterwards got up and walked away.

William Kelly, mounted constable stationed in Auckland, deposed to arresting the prisoner at the Hospital on the 6th instant about a quarter past four, on a charge of stabbing Mary Ann Wilson. When tho charge was read to him tho prisoner said, " I tiid not doit." He identified the clothes produced as being those of the prisoner.

Constable Kenny was recalled, and at the request of Mr Shorthand the Bench asked him if ho saw the deceased after death. Witness replied chat he had not. Counsel said that he could not therefore identify her with the woman he saw on the night in Grey-street.

Charles Brown, chief detective stationed at Auckland, deposed to finding bloodstains on the prisoner's clothes, giving the same evidence as adduced ab the inquest. Edward Hughes, detective stationed at Auckland, gave similar evidence to that given by him at the inquest.

Inspector Brohatn put in the dying depositions of the woman Wilson taken at the Hospital and already published in our columns, with this closing the case.

Prisoner reserved his defence beyond saying that lie was innocent of the charge. He was committed to take his trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court.