AN UNEXPLAINED FATALITY.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 129, 1 June 1889, Page 2

AN UNEXPLAINED FATALITY.

« VIOLENT DEATH OF A WELLKNOWN SETTLER. WAS IT AN ACCIDENT? RUMOURED FOUL PLAY.

A fatality, concerning which there is at present a considerable mystery as to the cause, occurred last night near Kaiwarra. Tho victim is Mr. Thomas Hawkins, a well-known settler in this district, residing with hiß iamily only a short distance from the Kaiwarra township. The body was found sometime about 8 o'clock, stretched across a roadway just beyond Kaiwarra, which leads from the main thoroughfare to the Hutt to Mr. Hawkins' own residence. The body lay straight out, except that the right arm was across the breast, but was so much disfigured by cuts, from which blood had freely oozed, covering the features, as to be almost unrecognizable. The deceased's clothes were also disarranged and torn as though they had been subjected to very rough usage, and altogether appearances pointed to the conclusion that deceased had met with a very violent death, the circumstances of which have yet to be explained. From enquiries mode we have ascertained that Mr. Hawkins left home on business in the city about 10 o'clock yesterday morning, driving a light spring trap. That business occupied his time until nearly 5 o'clock, because ho was observed in Willis-street shortly before that hour. At 5 o'clock Mr. William Dimock (of the firm of Dimock & Cate) observed Mr. Hawkins in his trap just turning into the right-of-way leading to his own homo, and exchanged a remark with him. The accident (if accident it be) must have occurred shortly after this, because the body was found about half a mile along the roadway. Uneasiness which had been felt by Mr. Hawkins' family at his not returning from town at the usual hour was increased when at about 7 30 tho horco and trap with the driver missing, were diecovered by Mr. Charles Bowks (a relative of Mr. Hawkins) entangled in a fence about 50 yards from the hotiße. This lod to Mr. Bowles making search along the road, and the subsequent finding of tho body. Information of the discovery was conveyed to Messrs. Dimock, and a telephonic message was despatched to Dr. Cahill and to the police, the body in the meantime being removed to the roadside. On the doctor's arrival, a hasty examination showed that death had occurred some time previously. The remains were subsequently placed in a vehicle, and brought by Constables Carroll and Webb to the Morgue. Dr. Cahill was of opinion from the hasty examination made of the body last evening that death was caused by haemorrhage from the external jugular vein on the right sid« of the neck, which bore the appearance of having been Fevered. There was also a wound exactly on the opposite Side of the neck, which would almost lead a person to suppose that a missile of some kind had pierced the neck. Until a post mortem had been held tbe doctor declined to express any opinion as to how tho wound b were caused. Early this morning Constables Carroll and Webb proceeded to the scene of the fatality, with the view of collecting evidence. Strange as it might seem, the only traces of blood to be found on the road were in the exact spot where the body was lying, although the deceased would seem to have bled profnsely. About 18yds from where the body had lain, a small stone tipped with blood was picked up, together with the remains of what had evidently been a double-bladed penknife. The state in which this Utter article was found evidenced exceedingly hard usage. One of the blades was missing, whilst the other was broken short off, and the mother-of-pearl handle was also snapped assnnder, and the springs twisted into all b napes. A moro singular discovery at the same spot was several small pieces of dark-coloured tweed, which, together with pieces of a newspaper, seemed as though they had been ueei in ramming down tbe charge of a gun. The finding of a dead hare a Bhort distance away might explain this, although it i 3 thought the hare was killed by a dog, as the head was partly eaten away. About seven yards from where the body was found, other small

irory stones wore found, and others again closer by. Searching farther afield, the constables found in a cully, about 25 yards from the scene of the fatality, a large jagged stono weighing perhaps a pound and a half, the jagged end of which web corored with dry blood. Tho roadway doeß not show any Bifjn of the body having been dragged for any distance, and it ia difficult to suppose that Mr. Hawkins was thrown out of his trap and instantly killed by the fall, as thia theory would lail to account for theprosonoo of the blood upon the stones and the longdistance between tho marks of blood. The only articles found in tho pockets of tho deceased when scorched last evening were a handkerchief sodden with blood, nnd a watch which huncj from his vest, having fallen out of its pocket. No inorfey waa found, although Mrs. Hawkins asserts that her husband must havo taken £,1 or £& into town with him in the morning. Detective Campbell was despatched tothe scene later to-day, in consequence of a rumour that foul play had been tho causo of Mr. Hawkins' death. It is asserted that marks havo been discovered about 50 yards further up the hill, as though some porson had been standing there, and that the passage of a bullet, or cliargo of shot, ia clearly marVed through tho scrub. The deceased gontleman was not known to have made any enemies in tho district, but rather tho other way, ho being yory highly respected by his friends and neighbours. Ho loaves a wife and family of mlg children. Dr. Cahill is holding a post mortem oxainination of the body at tho Morgue as we go to press. The circumstances of tho affair having been fully represented to tho District Coroner (Mr. H. W. Kobinson, E.M.), au inquest has been fixed to take placo at tho Morgun at U a.m. on Monday.