Eyreton Tragedy.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 156, 3 July 1901, Page 5

Eyreton Tragedy.

MURDERER'S. CONFESSION-

FULL ACCOUNT OF THE HOR-

RIBLE AFFAIR,

DESCRIBED BY THE ACCUSED,

THE MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

KAIAPOI, this day

The Eyreton murder adjourned inquest was resumed at Kaiapoi this morning-, before Mr. Bishop, S.M., Coroner. At the request of Mr. Stringer, Crown Prosecutor, the inquest was again adjourned till the Magisterial investigation is held.

At the Magisterial investigation G. McClure produced a locality plan of the house. O. P. Clothier deposed that on the 25th he broke into the Martiiis' house by a window. In the kitchen he found Miss Martin dead on the floor in a pool of blood. He sent for the police. He had known accused as Mrs. Martin's general farm hand two months. Accused slept in

the house, upstairs

Constable Simpson deposed that he reached the house at 9 p.m., when he broke in a door. He found Mrs. Martin's dead body on the floor of her bedroom. She had several large cuts in the hoad. In the kitchen he found the dead body of Miss Martin on the floor, with her head hacked with large cuts. The forefinger of the right hand was cut clean off. Keturaing to Mrs. Martin's bedroom he found the child Lawrence Martin also dead, with two large wounds on the head. Everything was ransacked in all rooms. The pocket of Miss Martin's dress was turned inside out. He found a letter addressed to accused from Victoria (not read). Dr. Murray said Mrs Martin's death was caused by four blows from a heavy, edged instrument, such as the tomahawk produced. Any one wound would have caused death. Miss Martin's body in the kitchen had six similar wounds, and one finger was amputated at the second joint. Her death was caused by wounds. The boy found in Mrs. Martin's bedroom was killed by wounds on the head from a similar weapon. All three were apparently killed about the same time. When the bodies were seen they would have been dead three or four days. Inspector Ellison described finding the. bodies. He found a tomahawk with blood and hairs adhering to it in an upstairs rootu. In accused's bedroom he found accused's coat, with blood splashes. He also discovered a shirt, newly washed, exactly similar to a shirt, accused was wearing, with blood stains on it. Dinah Martin, mother of the decensed boy, and wife of Mr G. H. Martin, deposed that she occupied a farm half a mile from the scene of the murder She knew accused had been working- for Mrs Martin two months. She was frequently there. She identified the coat and shirt. She was present when the coat was bought by Miss Martin for accused. Victor Martin, aged ten years, saul he often went to his grandmother's, and knew accused. He identified the saddle and bridle, horse and trap, and his aunt's watch. ■

,T. Giles deposed that on Saturday he saw accused driving deceaseds' horse and trap in a, westerly direction from the scene of the murder.

Louisa Garlick, servant at the Terminus Hotel, Oxford, deposed that accused, on the 22nd, at 12.30, came with a horse and trap, and had dinner and whisky. He said he came from Kaiapoi, aiid was going to the West Coast.

S. Halliday, living near Sheffield, said that on the 23rd accused, at 8.45 a.m., asked how far i'fc was to Greendale, Chrlstcbiirch, Dunsandel, Kangitata Bridge, and Fairlie Creek. He said he once lived at Fairlie, and that he came from the West Coast on the previous day. Accused was driving Martin's mare and trap.

Arthur Major, living at Greendale, said on the 23rd, at 4.20 p.m., he met accused riding a mare similar to Mrs Martin's. He asked where the road took him. Witness replied to Rakaia Bridge. Accused said he was looking for men who had stolen two horses and a trap half a mile off. Witness believed the trap was Mrs Martin's.

Oliver McCardy,- platelayer at Annama, said on the 26th accused came over to his hut at 8 p.m., enuiring the road to Tinwald, Ashburton. He was riding, and asked for a feed. He had a watch, now identified as Miss Martin's. Accused said his mother gave it to him before she died. He paid for matches and feed fro ma purse, now identified as Miss Martin's. He also showed coin, the property of Miss Martin. Accused said he came from Eyre-ton. Witness asked 1, "Where's that?" Accused replied, "Sixteen miles from Lake Heron." Witness refused to put him up, and he left at 1 a.m., going in the direction of Tinwald.