HORBIBLE MURDER AT HOWICK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6567, 4 December 1882, Page 5

HORBIBLE MURDER AT HOWICK.

— a A FARM LABOURER KILLS HIS WIFE WITH A BOX IRON. A SEQUEL TO DOMESTIC UNHAPPINESS. The inhabitants of Howick -n-ere startled yesterday forenoon, at the hour of divine service, by a report, which got into circulation speedily, that a man named James Crowlcy, a farm labourer on Sir. David Nathan's estate, Whitefoord Park, Turanga, kad some two hours previously murdered his wife. Ellen Crowley. The rumour proved but too true, as the subjoined narrative will shoiv. Whitefoord Park, it may be mentioned, is about four or five miles east of Howick, was tor many years in the occupation of the late Mr. Alexander Kennedy, bank manager, aud is situate vuar the scene of the murder of the Trust children by the Maoris—one of the tragedies of the Waikato war of 1563. The intelligence was brought into Howick by Mr. N. M. Frater (Mr. David Nathan's manager), who gallopped in on horsc'baek, in order to apprise Special Constable T. P. Gill of the murder. It appears that Crowley and his wife lived in a four or five-roomed house about 100 yards from the residence oi Mr. Frater, and tho latter was alarmed about 9 o'clock a.m., by seeing Crowley's daughter, a girl of 14, running out of her father's liousu, screaming, that her father was killing Mrs. Crowley, her stepmother. On going up i.o the house, Mr. Frater saw Mrs. Crowley lying on the floor dead, with her face battered in. Mr. Frater did not arrest Crowley, but directing two of the men on the estate to keep him in sight, rode off, as already stated, to Howick to apprise the police. Special Constable Gill immediately notified Dr. Fitzgerald, and accompanied by that gentleman and Mr. Frater at once started for the scene of tho tragedy. On their way the constable called ou Mr. Frederick Willis, a settler, who resides about two miles from Whitefoord Park, and directed him to get a conveyance ready and come on to Mr. Frater's place, in order to Crowley being conveyed to Auckland when arrested. Oα the road, at about half-way, the constable and Mr. Frater met Crowley, apparently coming on to Howick, with the two men from the estate dogging his footsteps at some little distance. Constable Gill, who has been well-acquainted with Crowley for some years past, at once accosted him, and said, •'l'm sorry to hear of this bad business, Crowley ; I must now arrest you on a charge ot murdering your wife," cautioning him at the same time in the usual manner as to any statements he might make. Crowley replied, "I could not help it; she kept nagging at me all night." The whole party returned to Mr. Frater's residence. THK SCENE OF THE MURDER. The dwelling in which Mr. and Mrs. Crowley and Crowley's little girl lis-ed, was, as above stated, a four or five-roomed cottage, within a short distance of Mr. Frater's house. The front of the house consisted of three rooms, that in the centre being the dining-room (the door of which opened on the verandah), and was flanked on the right by their bedroom, and on the left by a room which was unused. The kitchen abutted on the dining-room, while in rear of the corner I empty room was another, also unused, and i behind that a room used by the little girl as [ a sleeping apartment. The tragedy had been committed in tho dining-room, for on entering the room tho unfortunate woman [ was found lying on her back, her features \ and front part of her head being i pounded into an unrecognisable mass cf pulp, and the brains and blood being bespattered on floor, table, and walls. She was fully dressed as if to go out, and her I shawl and umbrella lay upon the table, and I her bonnet at her foot, where it had fallen in the struggle. On searching for tho J weapon with which the murder had been effected, a patent steam box-iron was found, splashed with blood, and much battered and bent. Dr. Fitzgerald was of opinion, from the dreadful character of the wounds, that the woman must have died almost immediately. DOMESTIC RELATIONS OF HUSBAND AND WIFE. Crowley had been about eight years in Mr. Nathan's service altogether—having been on the estate ten years ago, gone away for a time, and again returned. Mrs. Ellen Crowley was a second wife, and the little girl wa3 Crowley's child by his first wife. There was some disparity of years between the couple, Mrs. Crowley being about 29, and Crowley about 47. There had been no issue of the second marriage. For years past the ill-mated couple have led a wretched life, the husband taking a glass occasionally, but never, it is said, to excess ; and the wife having a reputation, which was tolerably well known in the district, of having an aggravating way of "nagging" her husband, and being somewhat of a termagant. The great source of trouble was the stepdaughter, and it is said that the little girl was harshly treated by Mrs. Crowley. One of the party who visited the house yesterday says that the apartment which did duty for the little girl's bedroom was partly filled with lumber. There was a blanket, a coverlet, and something on the floor, which appeared to be an apology for a mattress, indeed the whole house had an air of discomfort and slovenliness. Crowley, through such treatment, only clung the closer to his child, and his affection for the little girl seems to have been a prominent trait iu his character, andhisactiou on behalf of his child led to continual broils between husband and wife. The " cat and dog " life got to such a pass that Crowley was advised to get a separation from his wife, and it would have been well for both if the suggestion had been carried out. ALLEGED ORIGIN OF THE FATAL QUARREL. According to Crowley's statement his wife had been " nagging " all the previous night. They had had breakfast, as remains of the meal and the unwashed dishes still lay on the table when Constable Gill entered the room. Mr. and Mrs. Crowley were accustomed occasionally to walk into Howick to attend morning mass at the Roman Catholic Chapel there. There is reason to believe that she was about to set out for Howick to attend masa when the tragic affair took place. It is stated that he also intended to go, as he had on his black cloth suit, but Mrs. Crowley had not ircued a ehirt for him, and refused to do so. Crowley thereupon get the steam iron to iron a shirt for himself, and it Tv-.is while he had it in his hand that, fren/.ted with her refusal and her " nagging," he lost all control of himself and committed tho horrible deed with which he is now charged —the murder of his wife. THEIR ANTECEDENTS. Both Crowley and his wife are natives of Ireland, and by creed Roman Catholics. It is not known that either party has any relatives either in this province or in thu colony. Crowley bears the reputation in the Turauga district, among his neighbours, of being a quiet, steady man, and was regarded by Mr. Frater (Mr. Nathan's manager) as a faithful and trustworthy servant. It seems that latterly, within the last week or two, Crowley has been moody, melancholic, and somewhat eccentric. Among other freaks, it is alleged that lie was ploughing the othiu day in a suit of black clothes, and had committed other acts equally singular. CROWLEY'S DEMEANOUR. Crowley appears to be; perfectly resigned, and indifferent to his fate. He is quite frank in his confession that ho did',thu deed, aud the reasons which led him to commit it— namely, that he was so maddened by his wife's conduct and tongne that lie was halfcrozed, an.l scarcely know what he was doiii". His only anxiety --Mipears to be about, his little girl. Ho has anut £100 in the bank, and he is very anxious' Ji.it conic what may this money should go V tin child. CROWLKY BROUGHT TO AUCKLAND. Constable Gill having completed all the inuuiries he could make at the time, a! once brought on bis prisoner Crowley tc Auckland, in Mr. Willis's conveyance. Tin party arrived at seven o'clock laat night n the police station, where Mr. Superintend ent Thomson, who was in his otlice, reccivi'C Gill's statement, and gavu the necessary in structions for conimimicatinn; with Dγ Philson, coroner. The accused ia a man o about 5 feet 7 inches, well built, aud wit] bushy black beard. The countenance is no a particularly open one, but as ho lay in th police cell last night, coiled up iu hi blankets, it was not ea3y to distinguish hi features with any exactness. When th warders looked in at tho 9 o'clock relief t > see how lie was, bo bore himself most phiU soplikally, and was infinitely less concerne [ about his position than the two inebriates i tho adjacent cell.

THE INQUEST. ■ It is not known whether the inquest will take place to-day or not. The Coroner of the Howick district is Captain Kells, but in all probability, Dr. Philson, who 13 now released from the care of the hospital, will, owing to the importance of the case, go out himself. Owing to the scattered character of the population in the Turanga district, it may be necessary to summon a jury in Howick, and take them by conveyance to Whitefoord Park, for the holding of the coronial inquiry. The distance from Auckland—some 23 miles—and the necessity for these preliminary arrangements, makes it a matter of uncertainty as to whether the inquest will be held to-day or to-morrow. Crowley wih be brought up at the Police Court this morning, charged with the crime of murdering hie wife, aud remanded. Be will be taken out to Howick, 30 as to be present; when the evidence is adduced at the inquest.