THE MASTERTON TRAGEDY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 10011, 8 June 1895, Page 4

THE MASTERTON TRAGEDY.

WELLINGTON, Friday. Ail Inquest on tho romains of the mnr» dered mun Herbert was qpened at Masterton this afternoon. Aiadrew John Somervllle, the perpetrator of the crime, was charged at the Masterton Odurt to-day with wilfnl murder. The prisoner walked with a firm step into the Court, and beyond casting his eyes pelrcingly into the assembled crowd seooied to take no interest in the proceedings. Mr Fownall appoared on hie behalf. On the application of the police tho case was adjourned till Saturday morning. MAFTPRTON, Friday. The victim of tße tragedy yesterday was a brother of Mr Jesse Herbert and Mrs Charles Dlxon, ot Masterton. He was about 40 years of oge, stoutly built, 1 with a full beard, but with only one eye. Ho was a son of tbe late Mr Joeepb 1 Herbert, fonnder of HerbertvSllp, ni i which plao3 he waa barn. Ho was 8 > contractor, and leave" a fllfe and familj r of fire young chlldrsn. He wan always , qnteb and inoffensive in his manner, anc . was a man whom It would bo difficult t( 3 quarrel with. Ho was highly respectec ' by those Who knew him, Andrew Somer t ytlle, the man la custody, appears to b( ] about 40 years of oge. Ho was born it ? County Tyrone, Ireland, and has been it 9 the colony about 20 years. He came tt r Masterton when the railway world 1 between here and Eketahnna were it £ progress, working for both Measr r O'Malley and Peperell and Messr ■ Uownes and Henderson. Since th 1 completion of the railway he has beei r working on various contracts for abort I two years, latterly with his victim, M r Herbert, at Qerbertrille. He came dow: • to Masterton about a fortnight age - and obtained employment from a pentle man at Pangaroa. He had expresse >f bis intention of leaving Masterton fc >- new employment aa anon as his Com Is case was over, bnfc on Thursday aiternoo )- be said he had changed his mind. Tt :s habits of Somervllle are said to have bee y above reproach, bh a workman be coul II not be beaten, and as a mate be wi r esteemed and respected by till who kue ie him. He is pnssesFed of a short tempe n but no one who know him would hai ;h dreamt for a moment that ha would 1 id guilty of a crime such as that with whl< Je he now stands charged. During the pa n- fortnight ho stayed at Messrs Street ai re Crowder's boirding-hous'. 1 . His condn was exemplary, and ha was liked by a th and although he toak a drink oce«slo nl ally he was nover seen under the inllucn By Of liquor, Somerville is a single man. is believed that ho has a brother In t s's South Island, He Is tally six feet 0 height, andjis a stoat, mnscular, lii

,c looking follow, with hair just turnini o grey, 6 . Latee. y The inquest on tfie remains of Arthu 3, Herbert was concluded this evening, i 3- verdict of wilful murder being mtuinc-i it against Andrew J. Somervllle. No nev i- facts weie elicited. Somervllle coutume! b, calm and unmoved. He will be cbiuEoe ', before theS.M, Court) to-morrow morniup Herbert's remains will be taken t( Herbertviile, Hawke's Bay, wLero he fins a a wife and seven children;