MURDER NEAR AUCKLAND

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2702, 5 December 1882, Page 3

MURDER NEAR AUCKLAND

fpEESS ASSOCIA.rrON’ TEI/EGIiAM-.J AUCKLAND, December 4.

A terrible tragedy occurred yesterday morning at Howick, fifteen miles from here. A farm laborer on David Nathan’s estate named James Crowley, murdered bis wife, Ellen Crowley, with a box iron. Crowley and wife lived in a four or fiveroomed house about a hundred yards from the residence of Mr Nathan’s manager, Mr Prater, and the latter was alarmed about nine o’clock a.m. by seeing Crowley’s daughter, a girl of fourteen, running over from her stepmother’s house saying that her father was killing Mrs Crowley, her stepmother. On going up to the house Prater saw Mrs Crowley lying on the floor dead, with her face battered in. Frater did not arrest Crowley, but directing two of the men on the estate to keep him insight, rode off to apprise special Constable McGill, in the village. On the road, at about half way, the constable and Mr Prater met Crowley, apparently going to Howick, with two men from the estate dogging his footsteps at some little distance. McGill, who has been well acquainted with Crowley for some years past, at once accosted him, and said, “I am sorry to hear of this bad business, Crowley; I must now arrest you on a charge •of murdering your wife,” cautioning him at the same time in the usual manner as to any statements he might make. Crowley replied, “ I could not help it; she kept nagging at me all night.” The whole party returned to Mr Prater’s residence, and the prisoner was subsequently conveyed to Auckland and lodged in the police cell. Crowley had been eight years in Mr Nathan’s place altogether. Ellen Crowley was the second wife, and the little girl was Crowley’s child by his first wife. There was some disparity of years between the couple, Mrs Crowley being about fortyseven. There was no issue of the second marriage. For years past thi ill-matched couple had led a wretched life, the husband taking a glass occasionally, but never to excess ; his wife having a reputation which, was tolerably well known in the district of having an aggravating way of “ nagging” her husband and being somewhat of a termagant. The great source of trouble was the step-daughter, and it is said that the girl was harshly treated by Mrs Crowley. One of the party who visited the house yesterday says that the apartment which did duty for the girl’s bedroom was partly filled with lumber. There was a blanket coverlet, and something on the floor which appeared to be an apology for a mattress. Indeed, the whole house had an air of discomfort and slovenliness. Crowley through such treatment clung closely to his child, and his affection for the little girl seems to have been a prominent trait in his character, and his action on behalf of the child led to continual broils between husband and wife, and thosegot to such a pass that Crowley was advised to get a separation from his wife, and it would have been well for both if the suggestion had been carried out. Crowley and his wife were Roman Catholics. It is not known that either party has any relatives either in this province or in the colony. Crowley bears the reputation among his neighbors of being a quiet, steady man, and was regarded by Mr Frater as a faithful and trustworthy servant. It seems that latterly Crowley has been moody and melancholic and somewhat eccentric. Among other freaks it is alleged that he was ploughing the other day in a suit of black clothes, and had committed other acts equally singular. According to Crowley’s statement his wife had been “ nagging ” all the previous night. They had had breakfast, and the remains of the meal still lay on the table when Constable McGill entered the room. Mr and Mrs Crowley were accustomed occasionally to walk into Howick to attend morning mass in the chapel there. There is reason to believe that she was about to set out for Howick to attend mass, when the tragic affair took place. It is stated that he also intended to go, as he had on his black cloth suit, but Mrs Crowley had not ironed a shirt for him, and refused to do so. Crowley thereupon got a steam iron to iron a shirt for himself, and it was while he had it in his hand that frenzied with her refusal, and her “ nagging” he lost all control of himself, and committed the horrible tragedy. It took place in the dining room. The unfortunate woman was found lying on her back, her features and the front part of her head being pounded into an unrecognisable mass of pulp, and her brains and blood bespattered on the floor, table, and walls. She was fally dressed as if to go out, and her shawl and umbrella lay upon the table, and her bonnet at her foot, where it had fallen in the struggle. On searching for the weapon, with which the murder had been effected a patent steam box iron was found, splashed with blood, and much battered and bent. Dr. Fitzgerald was of opinion from the dreadful character of the wounds that the woman must have died almost immediately.