THE INQUEST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 139, 13 June 1891, Page 5

THE INQUEST.

A PITIFUL STORY.

VERDICT OF MURDER.

(UY TKI.EGP.APH. —ritESS ASSOCIATION.)

Wa.w.anTji, this day. Tho adjourned inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Emily Eato Spicer was held at tho Courthouse before Mr C, N. Liiiiton, 'acting - coroner, and a jury of six, of which Mr A. D. Willis, was chosen foreman. Sorgt.-Major Anderson couducted thecase en behalf of the police. Mr David Hogg appeared to watch proceeding- on behalf of Mrs Poyman, who was presenb in charge of the gaoler. On the application of counsel witnesses were ordered out of Court. Aiicie Cockbnrn, of Marton,deposed thab deceased was her daughter by a former marriage. She was twenty-two years of ago, and a domestic servant. Witness last saw her alive about the middle of MaTch at Mr Parsons', where she was employed. She told witness she was engaged to ba married to Harry Methan. Deceased hud been in the lunatic asylum i:i Wellington, for live months in j.BBB. On the 7th Juno witness accompanied Ser-geant-Major Anderson to Mrs Jupp's board-ing-houae and saw him take possession of three bottles produced from her box. The first intimation of deceased's illness was a telegram from Dr. Innes, on 4th June, to the effect that sho was dying. She arrived at Wanganui on tho sth and returned on tho Bbh. Sho found a letter from Mrs Peymaa stating : " Your daughter Kate is in my house ill. Sho left her situation and intended to pay you a visit, and cailod on me to deliver a message. Sho was seized with pains in tho bowels. I prevailed on hor to stay for the night with me. For a week she was unable to leave her bed. She would like to _aa you." A. J. Parsons, a settler at St. John's Hill, deposed to the exceptionally respectable conduct of deceased. Aboub tha beginning of the present year sho commenced going to dancing assemblies. Witness returned from an Australian trip on Sunday, the 24 th of May. 'Deceased was in good health, but on Tuesday she complained of being ill. Subsequently she left, and ho never saw her agoin alive. On Tuosriay^the 17tb May, ho saw Harry Methan,in their grounds, who in reply to a question said ho had come to see Miss Spicer. Witness told him tho deceased had left. Win. Konnick, cabman,deposod to taking a female from Parsons' to Mr Jupp's. The latter deposed to a female calling ab her boarding-house on 26th after 4 p.m., requiring lodging. Witness having no vacancy the girl went away, leaving her luggage, saying she would send for it, bub never did so. Henry Charles Methan said he was keeping company with the deceased for five months previous to her death. They met on the 24th May aboub 6.30 p.m. and wonb as far as bhe bridge. There she was attacked by cold shivers. Ho took her homo, and before bidding her goodnight made an appointment for the following Tuesday. He kept the appointment, bub eha did nob. The following nighb he went to Parsons' and found she had left, sick. He went to a boarding-house in Guyton-etrnet, owing to a conversation he had with deceased, but she was not there. Ho thought sho had gone, homo to Marton. He received letters on Saturday, which wore subsequently destroyed at her suggestion. The contents were, as ho remembered, to the foil owing effect: " I want to see you very particularly. Come to Mrs Peymah's house. Knock at tha front door ab seven o'clock. —I remain, yours truly, Kate Spicer." " At the timo invited he want to bhe houso and saw deceased, who looked a3 whibe as a ghosb. Witness said, "Good God, what's up, Kabe !" She said she had a miscarriage and did nob know she was in a family way before bhat. Witness' intimacy with the deceased was of such a nature as was likely to lead to such a resulb. He nex% saw the deceased on Sunday, bhe 31_b. Sna was in bed at Mrs Peyman's house. She seemed cheerful, bub in pain. He went for Dr. Innes, and when ha returned found him gone. Ho sat up with decease;! that nighb and every nighb afterwards till

death. He had no idea sho was affected in her mind. She had no appearance of the same. He was engaged to be married to deceased about October next. He saw no reason to believe bhab wibness did nob intend to marry. He had no idea why she wont to Mrs Peyman's. Had wibness known her position, he would have been prepared to marry her at once. The jury found tho following verdict: — "That Emily Kate Spicer camo by her death at the hands of Caroline Poyman, and wo record a verdict of wilful murder againsb the said Caroline Peyman."