THE DUNEDIN TRAGEDY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5947, 18 March 1880, Page 5

THE DUNEDIN TRAGEDY.

£Br Telegeaph.] , [FBOM OtTE OWN COBEE3PONDENT.] DUNEDIN, Maboh 17. - An inquest touching the death of James Murray Dewar, Elizabeth Mary Jane Dewar, and Elizabeth Lindsey Dewar, was opened at the Hospital this afternoon, ’• before Mr Thomas Hockin, District Coroner. Mr lnspector Mallard watched the proceedings on behalf of the police. A crowd of persons assembled Outside of the building, showing great interest in the proceedings. The Coroner, addressing the jury, said: X need hardly tell you, gentlemen, that you are called together to enquire into the' circumstances attending the deaths of James Dewar,' his wife Elizabeth, and their child Elizabeth Lindsey, which occurred early on Sunday morning last. From the evidence which will be laid before you X think you will have no doubt that a most brutal murder has been committed. The little infant has apparently died from suffocation. It would appear that the murderer, who used an axe to deal his death'blows ,tried to efface sill traces of it by setting fire to the house, as a lighted candle was found burning under the bed.. I shall ask you, gentlemen, at this inquest, to cover as much ground as you can, and to attend to the circumstances concerning this, incendiarism, as well as to those attending the death of the deceased. Ido not purpose to-day to take more evidence than what will lead merely to the identification of the bodies, and then to adjourn till to-morrow at the City Police Court. JAt the adjournment of the inquest this afternoon, it will be well if you go to the house and inspect it and the whole of the surroundings, which will enable you to understand tho evidence which will be brought before you. After the jury had viewed the bodies,

'Thomas Atcheson, who was the first witness examined, deposed: lam a shepherd, living on the Hampden Downs . Estate, belonging to Mr M'Gregor. The deceased Elizabeth Jane Dewar was my daughter. At the time of her death she was 24 years of age; she was a native of Victoria; a Presbyterian, and was married about 14 months ago. r I was at Hampden at the time of the bccurrenco, therefore I know nothing of the particulars to throw any light on it. Mary Grant said: I live with my husband, James Grant, in Cumberland street, and close to the house belonging to tho deceased. The deceased, James Murray Dewar, was my son. He was 29 years of age at the time of his death, a native of Glasgow, married, a butcher by occupation, and a Presbyterian by religious persuasion. ’ Tho child’s name was Elizabeth Lindsey Dewar, and her age nine months. Hhe, was' bom in Dunedin. I last saw my son alive on Saturday afternoon between 3 ana 4 o’clock. He was in his own house, and then came to mine. He was quite well. I saw his wife going in and out several times after that. They were on the best of terms. I know nothing . whatever to throw any light on this affair. - X went into the deceased’s house before seven o’clock next morning, a fireman having called me. "When I got to the house Mr Boob said,. “ Come in, there’s something seriously wrong, here.” I entered by the back door, which was open. The house was full of smoke; I saw my daughter lying across the passage with her feet in the bedroom door, and her head towards the sitting room door. She was lying slightly on her right side, with her hands by her side. Her nightdress was on. I thought she was dead, but on approaching I noticed she was breathing. She was covered with blood; it was coming from the side of the left ear. She was alivs, but insensible. She breathed slowly. The fireman told me he had placed her where she was. I went into the bedroom, which was full of smoke, and the bed was burning away. A lighted candle bad been put under the bed, but it had burnt out. (A small candlestick was here produced and identified by witness. It was quite black, the candle having eyidently burned itself out.) Tbe candlestick belonged to deceased; it was usually kept on the kitchen mantelpiece. They did not use it on going to bed, but had a small kerosene lamp. The candle was only need when going into the sitting-room. The candlestick was under the bed just where the fire was burning. The night lamp was lying on the floor in front of tbe basin. Tbe stand and globe was broken in pieces on the floor. There was a great deal of water on the floor, thrown there by the fireman. My son was lying on his back in bed, with his face slightly turned to the window. He was quite dead. His right eye was black and his brains protruding through a hole in his skull. He was lying straight out as if in an attitude of rest. The pillow on which he was lying was covered with blood. The bed clothes were undisturbed oh his side, but on his wife’s side they seemed as if they had been folded-down for the 1 purpose of getting out of bed. There was blood on. her pillow, and the wall looked as if she had rubbed her head up against it, as it was smeared with blood. Deceased’s wearing apparel was lying on the floor beside the bed. Nothing whatever has been stolen from the house. I recognise the axe produced as tbe one that was kept in the coalhunker butside. .1 saw it when I went into the bedroom, at tho head of the bed, against the partition. I know nothing whatever that would throw any light on the affair. The night was a very windy one. I did not see any lights in the house, as I got to bed Slier than the deceased. I do not know whether the doors and windows were usually fastened, or the reverse. _ The child at the back of the father in tho bed. I thought it was alive at first, as it was quite supple when I lifted it up, but it was quite dead. Its clothes were not at all disturbed, arni l should fancy it died from suffocation, ibe candlestick under the bed was placed m the centre. I have never seen the table kmte with anybody, nor bore any ill feeling towards | an^ O 0 d mquest was then adjourned until next day.