THE DOUBLE MURDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5656, 29 August 1896, Page 6

THE DOUBLE MURDER.

f c FURTHER DETAILS. BOTH STABBED TO DEATH. A MAN ARRESTED. LATER DETAILS. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 2S. It is supposed that the murder of Mr Jones and his wife took place somewhere between seven and nine last night, as a girl who called at the shop about nine to make a purchase could make no one hear, though she saw a light burning. Mr Jones was stabbed below the nape of tho neck, right over the spine; also a little lower down to the left of the spine, and there was a third wound still lower down on the right of the spine. A quantity of pepper had been thrown in his face, while there was a quantity of loose pepper strewn round the room. Mr Jones's body was found in the kitchen, and that of Mrs Jones in a passage leading from the kitchen. There \ias no indication of a struggle, and on the kitchen tablo were the remains of a meal, apparently tea, which had been laid for two people. A kerosene lamp was still burning. The deceased leave two grown up, daughters, both married, Mrs Kerr, of Blenheim, being one, and Mrs Wade, of Invercargill, tho othei 1 . Ml- Jones tvas aged, sixty-fotur, and did not enjoy the best of health. Mrs Jones was six years older, and of frail stature. Tho deceased couple lived very happily, and were highly respected by the residents of Petone, where they were doing a good business in a general store. An examination of the body of Mrs Jones, this afternoon, shows that she too died from being, stabbed. There is but little doubt that the motive of the crime was robbery, as a eashbox kept on the premises is missing. The culprit or culprits, however, could not have got away with much money, as evidence has been procured that late in the afternoon of yesterday the deceased was unable to cash a cheque foi' a small amount, but as accounts are usually paid on Thursday evening by Petone residents, this may have led up to the crime. The young man James Shore (not Shaw), who has been arrested on suspicion, is a labourer well-known in Petone, where he formerly played as a member of the Petone senior football team. He was formerly employed as boner in the Gear Meat Company, and is aged twenty-seven. Shore was brought into town this evening. A coroner's inquest was opened this .afternoon, but after the jury had viewed the bodies an adjournment was made until Monday morning.