OFFENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6590, 1 January 1883, Page 10 (Supplement)

OFFENCES.

THE HO WICK MURDER.—INQUEST. The inquisition into the death of Mrs. Ellen Crowley was fixed to take place at Whitfoord Park Farm, Turanga, oh the uth of December. The prisoner Crowley was brought out in a cab, escorted by two policemen. During the investigation he seemed the least interested person in the Court. His manner was that of listless indifference. The inquest was held at eleven o'clock at the farm house, Whitfoord Park, Turaug-i (occupied by the manager (Mr. Prater) before Captain Kells, J.P., actiug coroner. Sergeant Gamble appeared on behalf of the police and conducted theinquiry. The jurors were: Alfred Tebbut (foreman), Joseph Perkins. William Trice, William Lloyd, William Wills, George Embling, Charles Emblint;, Robert Oliver, Francis Oliver, Charles Wade, Jair.es Cooney, James Vatfcen, Frederick Willis, and Thomas Long. The coroner and jury having proceeded to view the body, a message arrived that the witnesses also had to see the body for the purposes of identification. Mr. Edwin Hesketh (Hesketh and Richmond) appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of the husband of the deceased, who Was in custody on the charge of murdering his wife. The prisoner was in attendance in the Court.

The first witness called was Ellen Crowley, who stated : I am the daughter of James Crowley, and the deceased Ellen Crowley was his wife. She was my father's second wife and my step-mother. We had been lately residing in the house where the body of deceased now lies, oil Whitfoord Park, Mr. Nathan's farm. Wo had been living here about four years. I remember Sunday last, the 3rd instant. I got out of bed about six o'clock aud prepared breakfast. Father ond mother got up about seven o'clock, when breakfast was ready. After breakfast wc were all getting ready to go to church at llowick. fc'ather and deceased remained in the kitchen a);ont a quarter-of-an-hour after breakfast, and t'nen went into their own bedroom, where tluf?' remained about ten minutes and weut ifi!o the front room. I was then in the kitchen'. Ido i:ot recollccl whether I heard theirs talking except disputing about my going to church to Howick with them. My father objected to my going and mother said I should go 1 . My father said we would be too late to'go' to church, that is, mother and me. He gave no other reason. He said to mother, " wlv:'his been telling too many tales lately sin;-'~'ri'3 cams from ilowiak." She said she would complain to the clergyman when she wcivfc to Howick that father would not let me g'o- to church. Father went to the shelf and toots down a shirt, and went to a cupboard in the kitchen and got a steam smoothing iron. Ttir shirt was washed, but not starched or ironed.- Father took it into the front room, and began to iron his shirt with the cold iron or; the' table. Father atood at the end oi' the t:i>)le nertt the bedroom, and mother stood near' the front v/iudow, about two feet from him. I- saw birr. l while he was ironing the shirt w?v;iv staudir>g at the door of the kitchen loading into thy front room. I remained at the door abotti five mi mites, and then went back --uto the .kitchen. I heard mother say to father, " Wr.v don't you put on the shirt that is ironed: 'i'' but I do not believe he made nay reply.- I knew there was au ironed shirt in the hov.'«, because he wore a wdiite shirt the last time he was in Auckland, and never wore it since. Ido not after that hearing' her suv

anythin;* olsi\ but I w.i 3 in th« kitchen I heard father threw mother down, :and I hoard mother scream. I ran into the front room to sea -.vhat was the matter. When I went in I saw mother stretched on the iloor where she now lies, and I saw blood 011 her face. vather was standing near her head, and I saw him lift the smoothing iron to strike her. Hs hit her 011 the face with it. I then ran np to Mr. Prater's house, and made a statement to him. After I came into the front room, after hearing father throw mother down, I did not hear mother make any noise. The broken box iron (produced) was that with v.-hich father struck mother. (The lid was broken oft, and the side burst out.) I recognise it by the rag on the handle, tied by a string. It was not broken when he was ironing the shirt.

Nicol Milne Frater, manager for Mr. Nathan of Whitefoord Park, Henry Hack, labourer employed on Whitefoord Park farm, Ambrose Trust, Dr. Charles Penruddocke Fitzgerald, Thomas Page Gill, special constabfe, and Sergeant Gamble gave evidence. The jury were addressed by the Coroner and Mr. Hesketh, when after a deliberating for about half an hour, brought in a verdict of "Wilful Murder." Several jurors stated to the coroner that they believed the act T\as committed while Crowley was labouring under temporary insanity. At the termination of the inquest the prisoner was brought to town in same vehicle in which he was taken out iu the morning. The charge of wilful murder against James Crowley was proceeded with, before the Resident Magistrate, at Auckland, on Dec. 12. The evidence was exactly the same as that taken at the inquest. He was represented by Mr. S. Hesketh, aud was committed for trial.

Thomas Hooton, on Dcc. 11, attempted the life of Miss Rayner, daughter oi Mr. Rayner, J.P., at Devonport, aud was arrested by the police on a charge of attempted murder, by presenting a loaded pistol at her head. He was brought before the Police Court, and remanded till the 20th Dec. Mr. G. N. Brassey, who appeared for the prosecution, did not cousider it advisable to state the circumstances of the case till it again came before the Court. Mr. and Mrs. Hooton resided at Coromandel till within the last few months, making, while there, the acquaintance of Mr. Rayner and his family. Owing to Hooton':! drinking propensities, his wife and he lived very unhappy together, and inflamed by drink and jealousy, matters went from bad to worse. Three months back Mr. and Mrs Hooton took up their residence at Devonport, where the Rayner family had also taken up their abode, and both families in fact lived under the same roof. Hooton commenced business as a chemist in premises on the Queen-street Wharf, and after a.n effort to get rid of bis besetting frailty again relapsed into drinking habits. Further domestic broils ensued, Mrs. Hooton finally taking shelter with the Ravncrs. Hooton slept latterly at nis business premises at Queen-street Wharf, and he was so enraged at his wife that he threatened violence not only to her but to her protectors. We have already related how he threatened to shoot Miss Rayner. Hooton was taken, and remanded to Mount Eden Gaol, and about eight o'clock on Dec. 15 he began first to develop signs ot insanity, calling out to open the public-houses—calling for driuk^ — going round tiie cell to find the door to tno bar—and acting in the most extraordinary manner. At three a.m. on Dec. 10, as he was crouched on the floor, the warders thought they noticed a change in his breathing , became alarmed, and sent for Mr. Cooper, the medical attendant at the hospital, but before his arrival Hooton was dead. An inquest was held on Dec. 10, before Dr. Philson, coroner, and a jury (of whom Mr. G. Bowring was chosen foreman). After evidence was taken, the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, "Died from serous apoplexy." On the morning of the 2Sth December, a murderous assault was made upon Mrs. Olason by her husband, a native of Norway, which resulted in the woman's skull being cut open by an axe. The woman still lives, but her recovery is doubtful. C'n the same day he was charged with the ofiencc at the Police Court and remanded for a week. On Boxing Day a man named John Johnston is charged with having stabbed a blacksmith named E. Scotter at Devonport. It appears the two men had been fighting, and Johnston getting the worst of it gave in. As t-hey were returning to the street, it is said Johnston struck Scotter on the side with a penknife, inflicting a serious wound. He was arrested, charged with the offence, and remanded. An attempt was made to bum down Parnell and Boylau'.s Hal!, Gisborne, on Thursday night, the 21st December. Mr. Thornton, scenic artist, was at work, and a lad named Ross, who was in the hall at the same time, noticed a light under the stage. On examination Mr. Thornton discovered several lighted candles among a heap of rubbish. The police have no clue to the incendiarv.

In our last monthly summary, reference was made to the rumour then eurreut that Hugh A. Hamilton had met his death by foul play. The police authorities investigated the rumour, and in due time Mrs. Hamilton, widow of the deceased man, and a young man named T. Priestlc-y, who tvas studying for the Presbyterian ministry, were arrested on suspicion. The two accused persons l-.avc been charged at the Police Court with the wilful murder of Hugh A. Hamilton, and remanded until the Sth instant. ■ Mr. Theo. Cooper appears for the female prisoner, aud Mr. F. EacJ for the male prisoner.