THE MURDER AT NOBLE'S, NELSON PROVINCE.

Colonist, Volume XIV, Issue 1386, 6 January 1871, Page 4

THE MURDER AT NOBLE'S, NELSON PROVINCE.

An inquest was held at the Ahaura, on Thursday, Dec. 29th, on the body of George Patenaude, before Caleb Whitefoord, Esq., coroner, and a jury.

The Coroner briefly explained that they were called together to ascertain the means by which one George Patenaude, of Noble's, came to his death. After viewing the body, the following evidence was called:—

Colin Algie :lam a storemau, in the employ of Mr. James M'Laughlin, at Nobles'. I know the deceased George Patenaude. I last saw liira alive on Tuesday, 27th December, behind the store at Noble's about five o'clock. My attention was drawn to him by Miss Quigley the accused. I saw there was something the matter with him. I ran orer and caught hold of him. All he said was "Oh, my God! " Margaret Quigley told me he was stabbed. She then offered me a knife. I ran my fingers along it, and saw that it had blood upon the blade. The man was not more than 10 yards from the door, and when seen by me had his hand against his side and over his heart. I put my hand round his body to support him. I then brought him into the store. He was unable to walk. I laid him on the floor and placed a bag under his head. I saw that he was bleeding from his side. He had his clothes on. I told the accused to go away as I was going to strip down his clothes. Miss Quigley was at the door when I led the deceased in, and I said, "Oh Maggie! Maggie! what's this ?" and she said, "He broke into my bedroom last night." I bathed his face with vinegar and ■water. He only lived about ten minutes. There was no external flow of blood from the wound. I gave the knife to Sergeant Jeffries, but immediately after the accused gave me the knife I dropped it on the ground and rushed to take hold of deceased. I know the knife, it is one I use in the store. I gave it to the accused about twenty minutes before. She came into the store and requested me to lend it to her. The knife when given by me to her was blunt. She looked at the edge of it and pointed out that it was blunt. I said I would sharpen it, and I did so at her request. I asked her what she was going to do with it, and she replied that she wanted to cut some meat. She has been in the habit of borrowing knives, forks, and spoons from me. She lives about fifteen feet from the store. There is no house between the store and that of Miss Quigley. Charles Mori lives on the opposite side, right abreast of the house of the accused and is distant about 15 feet. He is a married man. John Gillam lives opposite the store. Gillam is a miner. His place is about 25 feet from the house of the accused, who keeps an hotel, and lives by herself. I have known the deceased for 18 months. He was a sober man. I never saw him drunk. He lived in the creek between Noble's and Napoleon, and is distant about a mile from the store. Two hours before he was stabbed I saw him walking down the street. No one was with him. After the deceased fell nothing further and no other conversation took place between the accused and myself. The accused never complained to me of the conduct of Patenaude, nor am I aware of their having had any quarrel.

By a juror: I can't say that when she came to the store for a knife the deceased was in her house. When she came there were two other men in the store. I saw no one but the deceased and the accused outside. One of the men, John M'Cafferty was sitting in the store with me. Phillip Dugan is the name of the man who was sleeping. I recognise the knife now shown as the one lent by me to the accused, and it is the same I gave to Sergeant Jeffries and the one I received from her. She was not excited when she borrowed the knife. I don't know whether she used it to cut meat. If therehad been any noise I should, in my opinion have heard it. If there had been any call for assistance I should have heard it. The deceased only spoke once after I ran out when he said, " Oh-! my God!"

By the Coroner: I recognise the clothes produced as the things worn by the deceased when he lost his life.

Duncan Fisher: lama miner, residing at Noble's. 1 was there on the 27th inst., and was at my hut in the evening of that day. My hut is about 80 yards from M'Loughlin's store. I saw the deceased on that morning as ho was coming down —this was about 11 o'clock. He had to pass my hut. I saw him go into Miss Quigley's house. I can't swear bow long he remained, but I again saw him coming out of the house between four and five in the afternoon. Ho, was coming out at the back door. The accused followed him out. They walked along the track together and passed behind M'Loughlin's store. I Bhould think about 30 yards. They were walking Blowly together. I was not more than 80 yards away. When I ]a3t saw them lie was a little in advance. She made a quick turn round at a little bush, and struck liiin about the breast. I did not see anything in her hand. She then ran back towards the store. The deceased stood still when he got the blow, and looked at her, and then moved a few steps toward the store. Shortly after this I went toward the store, and found deceased had been stabbed. I then saw Miss Quigley coming out of the back door running up the hill. She hai her hat on. Previous to this she •was bareheaded. I saw a man called M'Cafferty going up to Napoleon's to get the deceased's mates. Miss Quigley was also going, but she took the horse track. When I got in the deceased was on his back and on the floor. He expired immediately after. The last witness and others were in the store and around the body. I have seen the accused and deceased walking out together on more than one occasion in the same direction. When I saw the accused turn round and give a blow I thought it was merely in a lark, and that she was merely going to the store to get something they had left behind. I did not hear altercation. Deceased went round a little bush, Quigley took a short turn, and struck him. She quickened her pace and got partly in front of him. She struck hint with the right hand, and just about the heart. He never lifted a hand to the accused. I don't think they knew I was present. By a Juror: Deceased was in the habit of frequenting the house of the accused, and he thought they were on good terms. When the deceased went into the house I believe they shook hands—this was in the morning. There was nothing more took place than I have related. When they were walking they were side by side. I pointed out to Sergant Jefiries the spot where the deceased was struck and where I stood, My view was quite uninterrupted. I never heard from Miss Quigley before the occurence that he had broken into the bedroom. She never complained to me about him.

Oalum M'Cafferty: lam a miner, working at Noble's Gully. I recollect the 27th December; it was Tuesday. I was at M'Laughlin's store on that day. 1 was there in the afternoon. It was near dinner time when I reached Noble's. I was at the store and other places about four hours in all. I was in the store when the deceased was brought in by Algie. I saw the deceased first at dinner time. I don't know where he was going to. I saw him after this go into Quigley's house and close the door after him. Shortly after I saw the deceased at the baker's. I then went to Quigley's, and the deceased and the baker also came in; we had drinks together. This wasr about eleven and a half hours before the time of his death. I left the deceased in the house of the accused —he was lying down on the sofa. I believe he was sober. The deceased was seated at the fire, and they all seemed to be on good terms, though they did not to my knowledge converse together. The conversation was between us about water-races. I don't know what made Algie get off the counter to go to the back door. I met him bringing in the deceased, I aaw Margaret Quigley there. The skirt now shown me is the one the deceased had on, He was wounded in the side, about the heart. I saw a knife there. It was lying on the floor. I don't know who placed it there. The deceased did not speak after he was brought in—he died almost immediately. Other witnesses were callod and testified to facts above narrated.

John Jeffries, constable in Kelson police force: I arrested Margaret Quigley. She said she wiehed to make a statement. She admitted her guilt, and said she had done it under the impulse of passion. She Bkid she had known the deceased twelve or fourteen mQßkb*. Xtofintfocarafcb* ttwj mm oa good

terms, btit that latterly he had never visited the house ■without insulting her, and she had denied him the place, but he would come. On her return from Mackley's sports she went to bed, and had been in bed about an hour when some person broke in, she thought it was two, but was not certain. When she was going to get up, the party left the room. Next day she challenged him with breaking into her bed' room the preceding night, and he admitted it and apologised, and asked her to forgive him. She consented. The deceased left about four o'clock, and she went to cut up some meat. She was engaged in cutting up the meat when the deceased entered again, and finding she was alone, he began to importune her and take coarse liberties which she would not allow j then she went out the back door for the purpose of getting clear of him, taking the knife with her; that the deceased followed, and acting upon the impulse of passion she turned round and ran the knife into his side. She said that no other person was implicated, and expressed sorrow for what she had done. Medical testimony was then given, and the jury retired, and aftnr an absence of twenty minutes' returned with the following verdict: " That the deceased, George Patenaude, came to his death by reason of a wound in the side inflicted by a knife, and they do find Margaret Quigley guilty of Wilful Murder." Margaret Quigley was present during the proceedings, and fainted on several occasions. The court then closed.

Sic, —We the undersigned Electors of the Collingwood Electoral Districts, having watched with satisfaction your conduct during the three Sessions in which you have represented us in the General Assembly, beg to request you to allow yourself again to be nominated for re-election.

Should you comply with our request we will endeavor to secure yur election : — C. Henry J. Halcombe, W. Rodgers B. A. Thomas Driscoll William Stuart Forbes, George Peters Bart Thomas B. Scott W. C. Riley James M'G-owan Thomas A. Cook T. C. Burton Thomas Miles E. Derenn W. Schafer Charles Kidson Charles Landon F. Stallard F. O'Sullivan Daniel M'Kenzie E. Jennins Thomas Heywood James T. Scrimegeour Mont. H. Ellis Edward Dow Robert Besgrove J. Green J. Bray, jun. J. D. Baker Henry Humphrey W. R. Turner . John Mitchell William Green J. Hambrook Thomas Snow Frederick Harvey John Cann Wm. H. R. Nicholas Francis M'Grane Stephen Harris T. L. Gibson E. Field James Johns John Murray William King Thomas Jones John Allen Charles John Percival D, Angus C. E. Austin Reginald M'Grane Earnest James Tomes George Heslop John Taylor Pope David M'Cracken Peter Smith Matthew Barten William Butcher John Cann, jun. David Earnest W. J. Burnett Nicholas Francis Henry Moore Peter Williams John Eyles George Manuel John Macmahon G. W. W. Lightband Francis Roach Frederick West Valentine Bunkell Benjamin Earl Sandy Gibson William Bray Henry Carlson John Bray, sen. Hugh Ferguson W. Cole A. Hardy (his mark) George Joseph Hailes James Reilly Robert M'Gillan Edmund Gardner William Bairford Charles Cates Frederick Sparrow -Robert R. Fellowes James Smith S. G. Robinson Joseph Beadmore F. T. Hicks William Harvey James Bumforth William Duucan George Bumforth, Thoma9 Bates F.Taylor Daniel Bates John Jones Henry Bates John S. Capstick John Rogers Alexander Bord Thomas Scott Henry Clark Thomas Sigley Edward Story Edward Ganning John Gordon

To the Rev. 0. H. J. Haioombe, B. A., and the other gentlemen signing the requisition.