THE MURDER AT HOKITIKA.

North Otago Times, Volume XV, Issue 595, 31 January 1871, Page 4

THE MURDER AT HOKITIKA.

The scene of the crime, or of its commencement, is a cottage in Sewell-street North — the street which runs immediately parallel to Revell-street. Its usual occupants were a man named Molaumby, his wife, and three children, all girls, and aged eight, five, and three years. The father usually finds employment as a laborer, but has for some time been in delicate health, suffering from opthalmia. The mother has lately assisted m earning their livelihood by washing. They were a quiet, well-conducted couple, fond and careful of their children, and very great sympathy is felt for them on account of the calamity which, through the committal of this shocking crime, has overtaken the peace of their lmmble household. The murdered child was their eldest — an interesting, timid young creature, between eight and nine years of age. On Saturday evening, the mother and faiher, haviug put their children to bed, left their house to proceed into town to make some purchases. They did so about nine o'clock, bolting the back-door of their cottage, and locking the front door. The two elder girls were left in their usual sleeping-places — a sofa bed — one occupying one end of the sofa, and her sister the other. The youngest child slept alone, in its mother's bed in a different room. While out, the husband proceeded to Mr Cassidy's respecting some employment which he was to receive, and Mrs Molaumby returned home, accompanied by an acquaintance, McGrrin, a milkman. To her surprise, both doors of the cottage were found open, or, at least, unlocked and unbolted ; and to her alarm her eldest child was missing. Still more to her alarm, spots of blood were seen upon the bed, and upon the floor. The younger child could give no account of her sister, and the circumstances being so strange and suspicious, the neighbors were immediately alarmed, and a search outside was made for the missing child. A neighbor, Mr Forrester, lainp-lightei-, give information to Detective Brown, and he at once sent for Inspector James and Sergt.-Major O'Donnell, of the Westland police, who proceeded to the house. A number of people had by this tune assembled, and, with candles and lanterns, search was made for the child in and around the enclosure at the back of the cottage. Outside of the fence, at the corner farthest from the cottage, and among some rushes by which the swampy ground is overgrown, was found the dead body of the child, lying in a pool of blood, and presenting a fearful gash in the throat. The body was still warm, but there was not the slightest symptom of life. In fact the wound in the tin oat and an injury on the head, the apparent result of a. violent blow, were of so serious a character that death must have almost immediately followed their infliction. Though it was bright moonlight, satisfactory seaich for any further evidence of the committal of the fearful crime which it was plain had been perpetrated, ould not then be made, and, other members of the police force having been sent for, the ground was guarded until daylight — Inspector James, Sergeant-Major O'D >nnell, and Detective Browne remaining up all night, prosecuting inquiries as to the probable perpetrator. The murder ha3 since been found to have been committed by a man named Anthony Noble. He has been tried, found guilty, and sentenced to be hung.