THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3570, 18 December 1882, Page 4

THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Auckland, December 18,

At the inquest on the body of Gliomas Hooton (or Horton), a chemist, who was charged at the Police Court with attempting to murder Mary Jane Rayner, and who was found dead in hie cell at Mount Eden gaol at 3 o'clock on Saturday morning, a verdict that death resulted from serous apoplexy, "was recorded. It appears that up till some three or four months ago Hooton, with his ■wife, resided at the Coromandel, and while there made the acquaintance of the Rayners. The Hootons, owing to the husband's intemperate haaits, lived very unhappily together, and through his cruel treatment Mi's Hooton ■was frequently driven to seek refuge under the friendly roof of Mr Rayner, who on more than one occasion protected her from her husband's violence. Hooton does not seem to have appreciated the interference of the Rayners, and indeed conceived for them a violent dislike", which found expression in threats and innuendoee when he was the worse of liquor. About three months ago the Hootons came to reside at Devonport, where the Rayners had also taken up their residence. Indeed both families resided in the same house. Hooton commenced business on Queen - street wharf as a chemist and druggist, and though for a short time he was steady he soon relapsed into his old intemperate habits, and his unfurtunate wife led a life of even greater unhappiness than before. One day last week, stung to desperation by his cruelty, she rushed into the part of the bouse occupied by the Eayners and claimed their protection. This so incensed B ooton that he threatened to murder not only his wife but the Eaynere also. The day aftev Mrs Jlootoa'i flight her husband, borrowed £&

from a friend, ostensibly for the t>n*- . ■"■ ■-«»«»■'hi but astl.es..- .- -»»'««*i»«tW e l«», of cp" -n ue * proved with the intention , ... ry ing oi*t his murderous threats. It; nae trdiupired Miat he was already the possessor of a revolrer whicli ho had purchased at the establishment of W, it. Hazard, pimsmith; Queen-street, and also ball cartridge and caps. Hooton'b next step vras to load the Weapoh, a six-chanibered revolver and proceed to the North Shore. Oh Monday evening last the Misses Kayner liappened to be on the wharf as the. ferry steamer carae alongside and they o.t recognised Hooton, and observing thftt he was armed they eam'e I'd the Conclusion that he Vras aboiil Yd carry out his threats, Th«?y hastened home and gave the alarm. Presently a knock came fc& the door, and Miss Kayner, arming herself with a stink, proceeded to answer the summons. She did not think it was Hooton, consequently her (error was £/<?at when on opening the door *he found herself looking down the f»be of a revolver presented at her by the semi-inebriated chemist. Fortunately MfSS Rayner, with admirable presence of mind, promptly struck the revolver upwards. The blow apparently at the same time caused Hooton's hand to relax its pressure on the trigger. The weapon was fully loaded, capped and cocked. Just as Miss Eaynor had performed this act of bravery her younger sister and her father appeared on the scene, and without much ado wrested I the revolver from Hooton's grasp and handed him over to the police authorities. Hooton has a brother employed in the establishment of Messrs l'ottor and Co., Durham-street. Since his incarceration tie wrote a letter to his brother fully expressing his determination 'to shoot; Kayner.' Mr 3 Hooton states that sho visited her husband in gaol yesterday, and that ho then inn dense of threats that he would murder '-'ayner. Hooton informed her that he had arranged with John, ■ bis brother, to look after the children. Hooton has been in the colony only three years, having arrived at Wellington from England in the ship Merrivale in 1879.