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Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 180, 9 March 1867, Page 3

A very shocking affair happened at Castlemaine on Wednesday evening. The Mount Alexander Mail reports :— " About nine o'clock a report obtained circulation that a woman, bearing it is believed the name of Copper, or Cophard, had been burnt to death. The person referred to lived in 'a small brick tenement, . lined with calico, near the skew bridge, on the Barker's Creek road; and it is thought that at the time mentioned she was in her pLace alone. By some means the place took fire, and the several neighbors hurried thither,; iii the' hope- of either- extinguishing the flames or of saving some of the property. ■ The inflamable nature of the burning materials rendered every attempt useless, and the spectators were horrified by becoming aware that the unfortunate wonian was .being destroyed. The fire only lasted for a very short time, and the body of the deceased was afterwards found,Jreducedtoaheap of cinders. A man named Denham states that he saw the deceased about six o'clock taking in some clothing, at wliich time lie had a conversation, with her, and observed that she was partially intoxicated. From this time until the tire waa observed, nothing was seen of her. On going to the house the door was found to be shut, and appeared to be fastened inside. Denham thrust it open/ or rather pulled it out. From the position of the body of the woman, it would seem that she had endeavored to make her escape, and was actually standing against the door when Denham pulled it down. She was then burning,, and must have been dead ere she fell to the ground. The heat of the fire rendered it impossible for Denham to prevent the further destruction of . the body. The deceased lived alone, her husband having left her a. long time since."