A FIENDISH MURDER.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 130, 3 June 1889, Page 2

A FIENDISH MURDER.

THE VICTIM HORRIBLY* MUTILIATED. The Wellington publio have not for a long time suffered from such an amount of subdued excitement as has been simmering amongst them for the last two days in reference to tho discovery of the dead body of Mr. Thomas Hawkings on Friday night alongside the branch road leading; from the Hutt-road to his farm. Tho facts made known in our issue of Saturday were suggestive enough to raise a very considerable amount of suspioion, which was, however, heightened by the mysterious demeanour of all the police officers conoerned in tho investigation. Inspector Thomson and the two detectives have almost lived at Kaiwarra since Saturday, but neither they nor any other member of tho force would give any information as to the new facts which they had ascertained. Again, tho post mortem examiration was completed on Saturday evening, bnt as to its results neither Dr. Cahill, who conducted it, nor his police assistants would divulges anything beyond dark hints that something momsntous would come out at the inquest. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that tho man in the street Bhould have sot himself to work to account for tho occurrence in his own way. Thore were in consequence quite a variety of rumours ourrent yesterday. In somo parts of the city it was stated in tho most circumstantial way that the autopsy had proved that Mr. Hawkings was foully murdered, and even that a person, whoso name was distinctly given, and his motive accounted for, had been arrested as the author of the deed. It was, however, untrue tint anybody had been taken into custody, and to obtain any authentic particulars ol the mode in which the unfortunate man had met his death enquirers were fain to wait foi