THE KERERU BURNING CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1897, Page 2

THE KERERU BURNING CASE.

ANOTHER VEKSION OF THE AFFAIR,

(BY TELEOBAPH.—rRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Wellington", Thursday, The case of the woman Hay, who was badly burned at Kereru, came before the Court to-day. The version of tho man Chappie, who is accused by her, is that she had been drinking heavily and walked into the tire herself, and tried to climb tho chimney. The hearing was adjourned, Jessie Hay, in her depositions taken at the Wellington Hospital, said eho was married about ten years ago, and divorced in 1894, sjuce which time sha had been living under her maiden name. She went to Kereru, Manawalu, on January 4ch, with Chappie. She first met him in Wellington, a fow days before eha went away with him, and she was to act as cook and housakoeper. Chappie paid her passage up, and ehs performed the duties for which sho was engaged. She went to the bush gathering ferna on Sunday, January 3rd, and on the Monday morning she had some words with Chappie. Ho wanted to get hold of her and she would not let him. He called her names, and then he caught hold of her by the waiab and put her on the fire. She was in her stockinged feeb. It was h big open fireplaes, and he stood hor on the flames. Ha held her over tho fire for about five minutes. Her toos were now all raw, and both of her feet badly burned. The big too of her left foot was right off, and she could -nob stand or even move. She called him a coward, and Chappie hit her on the mouth, felling her to the floor, and her mouth was quite black when she got to the Hospital. She was in terrible pain. Chappie got her shoos and tried to put them on her, bub sho could nob get them on owing to the- pain. She went aboub half a mile from the house aftor receiving ber injuries. " A young man, whose name I think is Brown, came along. I was sitting on the side of the road, and he remarked, • You look very ill.' I replied, I1 am very il!; I had my feeb burned. 1 Brown could sea 1 had no books on. Ho said, 4 Wait until I come back.' I did ao, and he brought his mate with him. Me left? the mate to stay with ma while ho went to see a widow lady concerning me. He came back coon, and g&id, 'Come along,' and the two took mo by tho arms and helped me along to Airs Olsen's. 1b was not very far. My feob were very bad then ; they had commenced to break. Mrs Olson took mo. in, looked after mo, bandaged my limbs up, and I remained thoro^thab night). Meanwhile the constable at Levin was informaci, and he brought a cart to take me to the Hospital...'l didn't go, however, as I couldn't ba moved. He returned nest morning to tell me to gob ready to go by train to the Hospital. I couidn'n walk, and heUfted ma oa to his horse. I came flown in the brain alone, tho constable telegraphing to tho Wellington police to moot me and ukc mo to the lioauital. This was on the 6th January."