Tragedy near Auckland.

Southland Times, Issue 4495, 6 December 1882, Page 2

Tragedy near Auckland.

«. I By telegraph we arc apprised that a terrl- j ble tragedy occurred at Howick. fifteen miles from Auckland, on Sunday morning. A farm laborer on Mr David Nathan's estate, named James Crowley, murdered his wife, Ellen Crowley, with a box iron. It is alleged that for some time past Crowley, who bears the reputation among his neighbors of being a quiet, steady man and trusts worthy servant, has been living on very uncomfortable terms with Mrs Crowley, who was his second wife, and who is alleged to have harshly treated his daughter by his first wifr, of whom he was excessively fond. It seems that Crowley has been somewhat eccentric, moody and melanclioly latterly, a-rxd. Hie owq e^ouso £ or ! his crime is that his wife had been " nag--1 ging " him the whole of the previous night. It appears that on the fatal morning the ill-assorted unfortunate couple had just had breakfast and were about to walk to Howick, as they did occasionally, to attend mass. Before doing so he wanted to get a shirt ironed, and on Mrs Crowley refuging to do it for him, he proceeded to do it for himself. It was while doing this that, according to his own statement, frenzied with her refusal to iron the shirt and her "nagging," he lost all con- J trol of himself and battered her head to pieces with a patent steam-box iron, ! which was found splashed with blood and ! much bent. The medical opinion is that the woman must have died almost immediately. She was found lying on her back in the dining-room, her features and the front, part of her head pounded into an unrecognisable mass of pulp and brains — the floor, table and walls being bespattered with her blood. J9he was fully dressed aa i£ to go out ; her sbawl Had umbrella lay on the table, and her bonnet at her foot, where it had fallen in the struggle. One of the party who visited the house since the tragedy says that the apartment which did duty for the girl's bedroom was partly filled with lumber. There was a blanket, coverlet, and something: on the floor which appeared to b« an apology for a mattrass. Indeed the whole house is described as haying an air of discomfort and slovenliness. Thu murderer was arrested at once and conveyed to Auckland.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. Auckland, Dec. 5. Mary Crowley, aged sixteen, daughter of the Howick murderer, has made the following statement ;— Father went to a shelf where his shivt wag, and put it on the table. It was clean, but not starched or ironed, and he began ironing it with a cold iron. He seemed very quiet when ironing the shirt, and when he. came into the kitchen all he said ■\yaa tljat J must not go to liowick. I went into the front room to go through it to the bedroom to tie my necktie. When I went in for it he was still ironing the shirr, and mother and father were not talking. I went into the kitchen and heard no quarreling between them, but I heard her ask why he did not put on the white shirt that was ironed. This was a new shirt that had never been worn. He said— "Kb, I will not put it on.'' She made no remark. Then I heard no more quarrelling but about ten minutes after that I heard blows — more than one. I heard her screaming before I heard the blowPj but heard nq quarrelling, q» naggingShe had not been scolding him that n^ornr ing. When he brought in the iron he said to mother — " Here's your iron ; you can put it away," but she did not reply. Did not hear either of them speak again after that until I heard the scream. Five minutes after, that from the sgynd I equl4 tell thaj; ho had knocked hey dqwn I ran into the r,oom. "Mother was thefl stretched on the floor near the windowj and I Baw father standing up alongside of 1

her, with the iron in his hand. Noticed blood on her face, and when I saw it I ran. I saw him strike a blow before I ran. When I ran from the kitchen on hearing the scream T could see into the front room, for the kitchen door opened to the front room. ysl>ohly heard the first blow, and didf-noir'see him knock her down, but she lay with her head towards the bedroom and, ;when^lsgot-in»i'he^wa9-st sanding iiear her head. I saw father strike her with the iron;on the face. Only sawpno^blQW, AhinMk out. She was makingine jiaiSe 0 at that time, and did not after she scream^ and went to Fraser'sj-vm^nager^aHd told him I believed that fattier 4 ha^ /killed my mother.; -He was .queer in his manner, and wore his Sunday'/, clothes to Work. ; It is ' not ttue.tha^y she was, constantly jawing and nagging at father, and it was fie' who - wasicpn3tantlyf- ja,wing?ljer. %-iSne tfeed-ib -~ aay^tHatiie Bpent-his-raoneyiwlien lie went to Howick, and he used to: answer her back. I He iised v /to:>go toiEtowickaspniiotimes,' but seldom got drank* vM°i- a^ no drink jlately, and had, none, t% at morning. My^stepmother ; used tb treat 'me', very well —father' h' bd no re&son to'complain^ r of 'her ' conduct tome. She scolded m^ sometimes, :r but on the whole treated .me kindly. ; , 1... - have no cause to complain of ncr; treatment." ' "-".; :. .j':X l-'.^;,';;.