MURDER DISCOVERED BY A SPIRIT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 46, 14 June 1876, Page 2

MURDER DISCOVERED BY A SPIRIT.

[From the Brisbane " Telegraph."] A mail named Alexander llixon ]ies in our lock-up, committed for trial for the wilful murder of his wife. The particulars of the case are peculiar. Rixon and a woman named Quipps came to this colony by the ship Star Queen, and have lived in Maryborough as man and wife until within the last tiirec weeks. Then there was a quarrel, Quipps was driven from the house, and next day Rixson legally married another woman. A week afterwards Rixson's legal wife died suddenly. Dr. Little held a post mortem examination; and Dr. Power, in his capacity as a justice of the peace, held a magisterial inquiry into the cause of the death. Rixson was terribly cut up, and could hardly g'.ve his evidence through crying. He descnbsd how his wife had been ailing for two or three days, and how the night previous to her death he had been disturbed two or three times to supply her with brandy and a cup of coffee. Dr. Little gave it as his opiuion that the woman died from apoplexy. The inquiry as an ordinary precaution was adjourned for three days, the body was buried, and there Ave suppose the matter would rest. The night after the inquiry a man named Adamson, going home across the reserve, saw a ghost. If you consider this a laughing matter, I assure you the man does not; he becomes fightable if you but smile when he narrates his experience. This is what he saw, or, if you like, fancies lie saw :—First, what appeared like a small heap of black earth. As he approached he saw it move, and concluded it was a large black dog. But it still kept growing larger, and Atlamson was certain it was a drunken nigger. Musteriug all his courage, he walked towards the object. As he drew neai% lie was seized with a violent shaking, cold perspiration burst out all over his body, a bundle which he was carrying on his shoulder dropped to the ground, and his hat rose from his head. In the features of the apparition he recognised those of Mrs. Rixon ! Then came a voice, " I am the murdered wife of Rixon." The apparition then placed one of its hands over, its mouth, and the other on it 3 throat, and disappeared. Adamson does not know how long he remained on the Reserve, or how lie found his way home. Next morning he took his wife's advice, and told his experience to the police, and .they, growing suspicious, arrested Rixon and !%dia

Quipps. The woman was ho sooner in the police office than she made a statement, which she has since repeated in the Police Court. She is not in custody. It appears immediately after his marriage, Rixon took "a down on his wretched wife. He cohabitedwith her but one night. The remainder of the week of Ins wedded life he slept at the woman Quipps' lodgings. He frequently swore that he would have the life of his wife. On Tuesday morning (March 15) he left Lydia at six o'clock, and went to his garden to dig her some sweet potatoes. In about half an hour he returned, and while delivering the potatoes said, " I have been and done for my wife." The woman answered, " Good God, I will never speak to you again as my name is Lydia Quipps." Then lie held her by the windpipe, saying, "This is the way I did it." Afterwards Rixon said to her, "So help my God, I have not done it," and left her. A few minutes afterwards a little girl came running to tell her Mrs. Bixson was dead. The neighbours deposed that early that morning they had heard a quarrel between Rixson and his wife, which ended abruptly, •snd that when they were called into the house she was dead—stiff and cold. In consequence of this additional evidence, the body was exhumed, a second jjost mortem examination held, and Dr. Little, on being recalled, gave it as his opinion, gathered from re-examination and from the evidence, that the woman had come to her death by ' strangulation. Bixson has since been tried and acquitted.