THE ARMIDALE TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 306, 23 December 1908, Page 5

THE ARMIDALE TRAGEDY.

WOMAN MURDERED IN HER SLEEP. ADDITIONAL- PARTICULARS, i j A shocking tragedy occurred at the Central Hotel, Kusden-street, Armidale, in the early hours of Sunday morning, December 12. The Central is situated.in one of the main streets, and is a well-known hotel. Shortly before daylight, the boarders and other occupants were awakened from sleep by a rapid succession ot piercing, screams. . Immediately afterwards startled people were rushing from their beds. The corridors and. passages were quickly lighted by men and frightened women, and rooms were hurriedly searched for an explanation of the terrifying outcries. Presently, the screaming was traced to the servant's room. Therein, lying on a bed, -with her throat cut almost from ear to ear, was the body of a girl named Hannah Kelly, -who had been employed in the hotel as a waitress. The room presented a shocking appearance. Blood was everywhere—all over the bed, on the floor and also on. the wall where the victim swept her •arm in her death throes. Miss Kelly had been at the hotel only four or five weeks. She was oi quiet, reserved manner, and won general respect. She was about 30 yeare of age. On the previous night she had received an engagement ring from a young man she had been keeping company with. The ring was found under her pillow. The wound in her throat °was of a gaping character, and death ensued within ten minntes. It was evidently done by some very sharp instrument. "When the inquest was resumed on Tuesday morning a sensation was caused by the appearance in custody of Agnee Sophy O'Leary, who was the murdered woman's room mate. Mrs. Swain, proprietress of the Central Hotel, gave evidence that Agnes O'Leary, a general domestic in her employi, knocked at her door about four o'clock in the morning, and in an excited manner, cried out, "Oh, Mrs. Swain, come quickly, Hannah has burst a blood vessel." Witness rushed towards the bedroom, and went in alone, bearing a lighted candle in her hand. The window was high up from the bottom, and witness put it down. Deceased "was lying on her bed. Her face was covered with blood, and there was Wood everywhere. Witness could not rempmbcr Agnes O'Leary coming in afterwards. The body was only partly covered with bed clothes, the upper portion being bare. There was -a gaping wound in the throat, and the blood was flowing freely from it. Doctors were telephoned for, and were shortly afterwards in attendance. When the dying girl saw witness come in she was alive. She stretched out her hands and looked imploringly at her. She could not speak, and in .a few minutes , was dead. Witness subsequently spoke to Agnes Q'Leary about the tragic affair. Ag nes O'Leary said she was awakened by hearing a strange "noise, and, on looking up saw a man in the room. Hβ was dressed in grey clothes, and was clean shaven. Immediately the/man saw her he dashed for the window, climbed out, and made off. She then went over to Hannah, who was making a strange noise. . The girl said she thought that Hannah had burst a blood vessel She said that the quilt was knocked down from the window, where she had placed it, and that she had left the top half of the window down. Agnes's bed was right under the window, and her head ■was closest to the window. A dressing table stood between the two beds, but not directly under the window. Agnes had been at the hotel about two months, and Hannah about one month. They appeared to be on good terms with each other. Agnes had- no disagreements wirh the girls in the house. Agnes had a grey coat and a maroon coloured skirt on when witness first saw her that night. Witness did not know that Agnes had a pocket knife. Witness was with Sergeant Rank that morning, when she pointed out where. a rag had been burnt under the copper in the laundry. It looked like a rag that had been saturated with blood. She "was not aware of any fire haying been there after Saturday, and could not account for a fire. Witness made inquiries in the house, but. the burnt material was not accounted for. The skirt produced wae similar to one found hanging behind witness's bedroom door. Agnes had changed her clothes in witness's bedroom after the alarm ha-d been given. The skirt was similar to the one Agnes was wearing when witness first saw her. Witness could not say whether she saw any blood on Agnes's clothing , .

Dr. Scott said he had examined the girl O'Leary's clothing. She had told the police in his presence that she was wearing the petticoat and underclothes that she was then "wearing, and had slept in them. She accounted for blood on the clothing by saying she was sitting on the side of the bed holding deceased up. The greater, portion of the blood was on the Ince work. Though there was blood on the petticoat there was none on the underclothes. In view of the fact that she had sat in a pool of blood that was somewhat remarkable. He would expect to see blood on the underclothes. There was no blood on the clothing, where he expected to find it, and he could only assume that some garments were missing, or her statement that she was holding up the dying girl was incorrect. There were •blood stains on the girl's fingers. The girl produced a big pocket knife with three blades, one with marks on it like ■blood. The knife could produce such a, wuund with one gash.

Kdward Sweeney, labourer, of Armidale, said he had been keeping company with deceased. He became engaged to her about twelve months ago, and gave her an engagement ring on Saturday night. Toe rinrr found under the pillow was the one. He knew of no one who was likely to do her harm. He left her at 11 o'clock, kisstvi her, and saH goodbye. That was the last time he saw her alive. He had never had anything to do with Agnes OTJeary. The inquest was adjourned until Friday.