Adjourned Inquest This Day.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2118, 18 October 1875, Page 2

Adjourned Inquest This Day.

The adjourned inqiVest was resumed this day at the Bowen, but on the jury assembling it was resolved to; farther adjourn to the Warden's Court, Grahamstown.

The enquiry was directed towards eliciting the circumstances attending the death of Patrick Henry Walls. Mr Bullen conducted the examination for the Crown.

The enquiry having been formally adjourned to Grahamstown Court House the jury proceeded thither. The prisoner, Margaret Walls, was in Court seated at a side bench held by two constables, from time to time made efforts to liberate herself, but was too firmly held. The Coroner informed the jury that it was necessary that she should be present at the outset for them to be satisfied as to her identity, but that her further presence was unnecessary. The jury expressed themselves satisfied, and she was removed.

The Coroner then called the first witness, John Walls, who was much affected. He, being duly sworn, said — I am a miner My family on Saturday last consisted of my wife, and two children, Patrick Henry and Mary Anne. (Witness was deeply affected whilst giving his evidence.) I went to my work, on Saturday at half-past seven in the morning; my wife and both my children got up about 7 o'clock. I had some ordinary conversation with my wife before I went away. I told her to get some meat for Sunday. She said she would get a leg ■ of' mutton. Her manner had nothing unusual in it. We had been married eleven years on the third of August. I have never seen her lift a hand to the children before, except in a proper way as a mother should do. She is not a passionate woman. My children !arid wife hiid breakfast with me, and then I went to work. I left work at 4 o'clock. On the way home I heard from one man speaking to another that a woman had cut off two children's heads with an axe, at the .back of Mrs Baxter's store. I believe I exclaimed, "My God! it can't be nobody else, it must be my children." The reason I said it was because there is only one house at the back, of Mrs Baxter's and that is mine. I had no other reason for saying this. I did go home, but I dcn't know how. I saw the boy in the house all covered with blood, but I couldn't look aLhim. I saw them yesterday and this morning, but I didn't look at them previous to this. During our married life my wife has always taken beer

but not spirits. She didn't get actually drunk, but I have seen her the worse for drink several times, but never out of her own house. This time three weeks last Saturday? I j&ve her my money. I always did give her my money; it was £4 16s. She paid that' money all away as far as I •know, for old debts. Last Friday week she aaid she got 6s from MrljO'D'owd for some sewing. I don't know how it was expended, but on that anight she was the worse for beer, but not ] the next night. I have not seen her the worse for beer since. On Wednesday night she said "John, I am very bad, let me have a glass of beer." I sent the boy for sixpenny worth. She drank a tea cup full, and 1 drank the rest. I sent for the same on Thursday, and on Friday also. We drank it between us. It was a*good long time before last Friday week since she had been under the influence of drink. I should say a month, but I can't exactly tell. During the last month I have not been absent from the house more than about nine hours out of the twenty-four. If my wife was the worse for liquor I should certainly see it. There was nothing strange in her conduct, neither has there been during our married life. We lived very happily together —as happy as any couple in the . world. My wife was not of a jealous temperament, and never accused me of inconstancy or anything of that kind. I have not received any letters likely to cause tro.ublo for seven years. I recognise the axe—that is mine (axe produced).' The woman present'in the Court just now and whom I saw is my wife. By a juryman—l cannot suggest the slightest reason why she has acted in this way. ?. Ou the evidence being read over the following alteration was made " My wife and I had our breakfast, and my children were at breakfast when. I left." " My. wife said to me she got ss. I .don't know whether, she had or not."

John Baxter said — I live with, my mother in Owen street. Our house is close to a passage leading down to a house occupied by Walls. I know Mrs Walls and the two children and Walls. I recollect Saturday afternoon. Some boys called me and said Mrs Walia was killing her children. I went to the entrance of the passage and looked down, and saw Mrs Wall. She had an axe in her hand. At this time she was standing. I saw two children, Henry and Mary Anne lying on the ground side by side. I didn't notice them moving. Wherilfirst saw Mrs Walls sbe was standing up, then she sat down and tried to hit the children sitting down. She stood up and hit the girl twice with the axe. I am not sure whether she hit deceased Harry or pot, as I ran and told my mother. She used the axe standing up, swinging it sideways. My mother came out immediately. I did not go back again. (The witness here saw prisoner in the next room, and identified her, as also the axe.) . By the juryman—When she "was sitting down she changed the axe from one shoulder to another. I did not see a sailor or any other man at the house. I recognise the passage on plan marked A. It was about a quarter to 4on Saturday. . ; ■ ■ _ Adam Elliott, being sworn', said—l am a miner residing on the* Moanatairi. I recollect being in Owen street a little before 4on Saturday last. I know a passage leading to a yard where Walls^lives. I was near the passage. Some children who were excited drew my attention to it. When I came opposite to the entrance (plan produced), I looked down. I saw a woman with an axe in her hand chopping at something for a short 'time. I could not believe they were children. They were lying on the ground. When I first saw her she was in a bent position chopping at them with quick strokes. Both objects were close together. I could not distinguish which the strokes were on. She then straightened herself up and raised the axe high and delivered a blow. I then noticed if was a child, as I saw the hair fly up and the head bounded off the ground. I cannot be certain how many blows she gave in this position. - She gave several. Mr Eadford came up shortly afterwards. I saw Mrs Baxter, she came also. 1 heard Mrs Baxter call out to the woman down the yard something. I cannot say what, and then she called murder. About that time, prisoner laid down the axe beside the children. I cannot say whether it was because Mrs Baxter called out to her or not; prisoner came up the entrance to where we were standing. I then went for the police \and. returned with them again. Inere was no other person than the prisoner in the yard that I could see. 1 went down theyard with-the constable, and saw the woman whom I h.ad seen using the axe. She was standing close by the children, and they were lying on the ground. I saw blood running from the spot where the children were. I don t know whether the children were dead or not. I heard Mrs Walls- say something about some matches or something of that sort, which she had sent the children for... which they had not done right. She appeared to be unconcerned. I could not say she ,was the worse for •.,liquor. .. She was walking steadily. I did not see the children taken to the house. (This witness also identified the prisoner.) I didn t see Mrs Baxter in the passage. [Left sitting.] ■