THE MYSTERIOUS MURDER IN MELBOURNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9435, 5 August 1889, Page 5

THE MYSTERIOUS MURDER IN MELBOURNE.

ARREST OF THE CULPRIT. In' these days, when the perpetrator of the Whitechapel atrocities has so long gone undiscovered, the ancient saying- that "murder will out" has doubtless lost its force to many readers. But the quick arrest of the Carlton murderer, followed by his voluntary confession of the crime to the detectives, should go far to re establish the familiar adage. Of all criminals whose deeds have lately been chronicled in Melbourne, he had apparently the best chance of hiding himself and Ids offence. The murder was not discovered until a week after it had been committed, and in that week much might have been done to destroy all the proofs. Yet the meshes of the law have at once ensnared the culprit. Shortly after 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 'Jlst ultimo the police visited Antonio's restaurant in Flinders-street, where the man whose name is Cos tell oe was employed as second cook, and asked for an interview. In answer to their questions, he said that his name was Philip, and denied all acquaintance with the murdered woman. The detectives were, however, dissatisfied with his manner, and proceeded to search his belongings, .lust at that time something was heard to fall on the floor. Costelloe attempted to distract attention by stating that it was merely a button, but subsequent search revealed a heavy gold ring behind his box. In a coat claimed by the .accused was a lady's silver watch, which he said he purchased from some man whom he did not know, and he could neither give his name nor the amount he paid for it. On a shelf was found a medium sized double - bladed penknife, the main blade of which was as keen as a razor, and bore traces of having been recently sharpened. A white waistcoat stained with blood and a coat, the sleeve-lining of winch was also besmeared with blood, were found in the room. All these the accused claimed, and stated that the blood stains had been caused by his carrying raw meat. This explanation was considered unsatisfactory, and he was then arrested. On the way to the city watchhouse, where he was subsequently locked up, he made a voluntary statement to the detectives, in which he admitted his guilt. He said that he had met. the deceased in the street, and, in response to her solicitations, had consented to go home with her to her cottage in Carlton. When they arrived there they had some beer, and afterwards they quarrelled. Deceased struck him on the face, and this enraged him. He drew his penknife and stabbed her in the neck, and then cut her throat. At the time he had his coat off, but he put it on before washing his hands, and this accounted for the smears on the inside of the sleeves. His shirt was badly stained, but when his coat was buttoned up this was not not noticeable, so he removed his collar, which was badly marked, took all her jewellery, and left the house, locking the door behind him. He made no statement as to how the marriage certificate came to be spread out on the table ; but it is now supposed that in his search for plunder he took it out of Iwr purse, and, being a foreigner, was unable to understand -if it had any commercial value or not, and that his curiosity even in such terrible surroundings, was so great as to induce him .to spread it out in order that he might examine it carefully., He took the keys of the doors with him, and threw them away when he had gone some little distance from the house. He admitted also that the watch and. ring which had been found had belonged to the deceased, and that he had taken the rings from her fingers after he had killed her. Before ho reached his room at Antonio's he had thrown away his blood-stained shirt, but he did not like to discard his other clothes, for he thought that he might account lor the marks upon them by stating that he had got them whilst carrying raw meat. He declined to say anything further about the matter. He is a miserable-looking individual, with a distinctly Chinese cast of countenance. He is very little over 5 feet in height, but wiry in frame. His complexion is sallow and pock-marked; his eyes small and cunning ; his lips thick and sensuous ; and his general repugnance of appearance is intensified by masses of long, black, lifeless-looking hair. He is only 20 years of age, ana has been in the colony about three years. . He understands English well, and speaks it with considerable fluency. ___™_ ■