BRUTAL MURDER. A WIFE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN BURNT BY HER HUSBAND.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 53, 13 October 1880, Page 3

BRUTAL MURDER. A WIFE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN BURNT BY HER HUSBAND.

[Specially Telegraphed to Star.]

[per united press association.]

Hokitika, Tuesday night. •

On Saturday evening David Hutchison was committed for trial for the murder ol his wife Margaret, and his infant son Patrick. The principal witness for the prosecution was the prison: r's mate, a man named Reardon, who gave evidence to the following effect:— He lived on Tucker flat. When returning home on the night of the 20th ultimo, he heard a woman shriek, and the sounds of a choking voice appeared to come from Hutchison's. Everything then became quiet. He then went home. Soon after going inside, he heard Mrs Hutchison say, "Davy, Davy, what are* you going to do?" The noise continued for a minute or so. Witness then retired to bed. He was aroused b"tween t\so. t and three o'clock in the morning by t^& of v Hutchison's children, who said the house was on fire. Witness got up, and saw the kitchen in flames. When he reached the building, prisoner and the children were standing outside. The prisonor was crying, and in reply to witness said that his wife was in the kitchen. Witness then asked prisoner if he had seen his wife, and the latter replied that he shook her by the leg to arouse her, but the h at was too strong, and he added that he might have saved the baby but for Mary singing out that Maggie was inside. The remains were found in the morning very much charred. The remaining evidence of this witness was to the effect that for three or four months he had heard quarrels and disputes between the prisoner and his deceased wife. About a dozen other witnesses were examined, their evidence being purely circumstantial. It was shown that the accused had saved several articles from the room in which his wife and child were consumed. The prisoner offered no defence, but by direction of his solicitor said : " I am innocent of the charge."

For remainder of Reading Matter, see Fourth Page.