ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 765, 15 December 1876, Page 3

ATTEMPTED MURDER.

- , Q We published last Friday an account of an attempted murder at Invercargill. The following are the particulars : A serious, case of a deliberate attempt at murder occurred at Invercargill on Friday. Two men named Hugh Duddy and Charles Caldorwood arrived hero by the express last Sunday. They had been staying at the Australasian Hotel, Dunedin, where they became acquainted, Duddy being a miner a4d Caldorwood an iron-founder. The latter having informed Duddy that he had leased the Pier Hotel, near Invercargill (a place which has ho existence), from Mr Baxter, of the Pier Hotel, Dunedin, induced him to go into partnership, when ho paid Calderwood L 4 7s 6d, feeing one half of the rent which he alleged ho had paid. Caldorwood then stated that he expected LIOO as the proceeds of -his business in Christchurch, which was payable in Invercargill, and borrowed LlO from Duddy, with which he paid for the two passages per Express. Since their arrival they have been staying at the Royal Hotel hero. Yesterday morning Calderwood invited Duddy to go and see the Pier Hotel, saying it was only ten minutes walk ; and they travelled down the BlutF road for two hours, when Duddy stooped down to take a drink of water out of a small creek with his hat, when he was struck a violent blow on the head with a large iron bolt. Looking up he saw Calcic - • wood standing behind him, and he (Calderwood) said, “ You wretch ! I’ll murder you and struck him again. Duddy then ran away, but was overtaken by Calderwood, who struck him another blow with the same iron weapon. After a severe struggle, Duddy wrenched the bolt from Calderwood and ran away, being pursued fey bis assailant. He reached a roadside house, where he obtained protection. 'Calderwood came up to the house and asked the woman it she had seen a man ,wounded and covered with blood, stating that if he found him he would murder him. She, to save Duddy, said such a man had passed on. 'Calderwood shortly afterwards met one of the sawmillers employe! in the neighborhood, with whom he went to the Police Station and laid an information for assault against Duddy. The suspicions of the police were aroused, and they arrested Calderwood, and then went to Woodend and foinwl Duddy lying in the house very seriously wounded. He then gave the facts of the case as above described. Further particulars wore given by Calderwood, who says they left the Royal Hotel, Tay street, together in the morning for a walk down Bluff 'road ; that when near Woodend he had stopped to get ; a drink from a creek, and while stooping - clown his hat was knocked off by Duddy with an iron bolt. He added that he mastered his assailant, giving him a severe boating ; and that he had lost a pocket book containing L 47 in notes. Just as he com. pleted this statement, Mr F. Brunton came to the station, bringing information to the effect that the man Duddy was lying in a dangerous state at O’Drien’s, some five or six miles down the Bluff road ; and that ho accused Calderwood of having attempted to murder him. Inspector Fox, Sergeant Tuohy, and Dr Yorath, taking Calderwood with them, thereupon proceeded by the 2 p.m. train to O’Brien’s, where they found Duddy lying on the floor wounded and covered with blood. He declared that Calderwood was the aggressor, and that he had struck him ou the -head with an iron bolt while stooping to drink, exclaiming at the same time, “You wretch, I will kill you.” Duddy tried to escape by leaping over the creek, but he was followed by Calderwood, who again struck him with the bc/It. "Seeing the fellow meant murder, Duddy closed with him, and was fortunately able to wrest the bolt (a formidable weapon about 10m. long by f in. in diameter) from him, and finding himself mastered, Calderwood tried to persuade Duddy to give him the bolt, saying that he would throw it away’; but the latter of course refused. Duddy at length broke from Calderwood and made for O’Brien’s, whose bouse bo reached in a very exhausted state. Shortly afterwards, Calderwood came, and, in an excited manner, inquired of Mrs O’Brien if she had seen Duddy pass. With great' presence of mind she replied ho had gone up the 1-Cad, and Calderwood wont ou in pursuit, exclaiming that, if ho caught him, he would kill him. Mrs O’Brien, fearing lie. vyould return, locked her door, and sent for assistance to the saw-mill, neiir by. From Daddy’s statement, it appeared that fee be- r came acquainted with Calderwood a few weeks ago in Dunedin ; that they came down together by the Express, three or four days since. Caldorwood Lad led the victim to believe be had leased the Pier Hotel, near Invercargill, and, promising to take him into partnership, had induced him to lend him ’some LlO or Lls. Duddy, it seemed foolishly'carried about with him a considerable sum of money—some LOO in notes, together with a deposit receipt for L2OO, some nuggets, and other valuables, the knowledge of which may have suggested the crime of which Caldorwood stands accused. Duddy was cofiveyed. by special train to Invercargill Hospital, where his injuries were attended to. Calderwood was brought Up this morning, but, as Duddy was unable to appear, ho was remanded for eight daps. The spot selected for the murder is about as lonely a spot as could be found, and every thing points to a most deliberate premeditation on the part of the would-bo assassin. {■Mr Buddy, as many of our readers arc aware, was residing a long time at Serpehtine, and was hj shareholder in a claim with Mr Munford.— Ed. D.T.]