THE INQUEST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5860, 30 April 1897, Page 3

THE INQUEST.

FULL CONFESSION OF THE CRIME. VERDICT OF TOFUL MURDER. The inquiry touching the death of Agnes Lawcock, the victim of the Amberley tragedy, was opened at the Magistrate's Courthouse, Amberley, at 10 o'clock this morning, before Mr H. W. Bishop, coroner, and the following jury: — Messrs W. S. Smith (foreman), J. M'Kenzie Brodie, J. C. Thompson, C. Surties, W. H. Rhodes and D. Blain. After the body had been viewed, the Coroner said that he did not wish to make the inquiry of a laboured character, but simply to lead almost formal evidence, in view of further proceedings being taken. The evidence was then produced by Inspector Broham as follows : — Hilda Jane Lawcock stated that she was a widow, living about a mile from Amborley. The deceased was her daughter, and was sixteen years of age. Remembered Wednesday, April 28. She sent her daughter into Amberley at 10.50 a.m. She was going for the mail and other little things. She would, in the ordinary course, have been home by twelve o'clock, but did not return. Became very anxious, and at five o'clock reported the matter to the police. Did not see her alive after she left. Her body was now lying at the hotel. William Frew, saddler, Amberley, stated that on the afternoon of Wednesday he made one of a party to search for Agnes Lawcock. The time was about five o'clock. Witness found the body of deceased at about dusk, in a plantation of pines about midway between Amberley township and Mrs Lawcock's. It was covered up with gorse. Turned over the gorse and found the body. Did not notice what state it was in. He was taken by surprise, and stepped back. Constable Roche was only a few yards away, and witness called him. Charlotte Crampton stated that, on Wednesday morning, at five minutes to eleven (this clock was not quite right) she saw the man Fraser, now in Court, at her father's place, and he asked for sugar. (Inspector Broham here stated that the . man had given his name as Hugh Fraser, alias William Sheehan.) Witness gave him the sugar and he left. Witness's home was some distance from the end of the plantation where the body was found. Helen Sutherland Parsons, wife of Eobert John Parsons, farmer, stated that their house was near the end of the plantation. Fraser was at their house at about twenty minutes to eleven o'clock on the morning of Wednesday last. He asked for some sugar, and witness allowed him to have some, and he then left. Thomas Dwan, surveyor's assistant, gave evidence that he saw Fraser about 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday at the turn of the road between the end of the plantation and Amberley, about twenty chains from the plantation, He hailed witness, and made some inquiries with regard to the distance to Waikari, and the chances of getting accommodation at the stations going north. He was inside the fence, alongside the footbridge on the river, when he first called to witness. ' John Crampton stated that he was a farmer, residing about a mile from ■ the township of Amberley. On Wednesday, saw someone like Fraser in the bed of the Kowai river, stooping as if getting a billy , of water. He was about fifteen chains from the end of the plantation. He remarked to witness that water was scarce, and afterwards asked the way to Waipara. This 11 was at about 11.45 a.m. He was in a por- , tion of the river-bed where gravel had L been taken out. . ; William Roche stated that he was a 1 police constable, stationed at Amberley. ' Saw Fraser on Wednesday last at twenty ', minutes past two o'clock, about three ; hundred yards from the railway crossing : at Glasnevin. He asked how far it was to ■ Waipara. At five minutes past five o'clock Mrs Lawcock reported to witness > that her daughter was missing. Searched the plantation with a party, and William Frew found a broken umbrella. Almost immediately afterwards Frew found the body of deceased. Left the body undisturbed, excepting that witness took a 7 basket off the left arm, until Dr Fitzhenry 3 had seen it. At 9.25 p.m. witness arrested 3 Fraser at the Star and Garter Hotel, WaiL" kari. Found the knife (produced) on *■ him. I William Fitzhenry, a duly qualified 1 medical practitioner, practising at Amber- - ley, stated that on Wednesday* April 2S, 1 he was called at about 5.30 p.m. to see the body of Agnes Lawcock. The body was lying in the plantation at right angles tc f the gorse fence running parallel to the i, road. It was lying on its back; with a . very severe wound in its throat. Rigoi 8 mortis had set in, showing that she had ' been dead for some hours. The wound ir g her throat was sufficient to cause death Was satisfied that the girl had been out e raced. There were several other injuries * t>o the body. a James Johnston, a constable stationec Y at Rangiora, stated that last night he tool r! the man Fraser his tea to the lock-up ai 2 about six o'clock. After a general con V versation, in which he said Fraser was noi p his correct name, he said he wished to mak< * a statement. Witness then said if tha a was so, he had better come t< the office/meaning the office at the polic<

station. • He said, " Oh, no, I can make it here." Witness then said if he wished to make a statement it must be put in writing, and he had better come to the office. Witness then took him to the office, and Detective Benjamin took down his statement in.wijiting, which he now produced. [. THE CONFESSION. The Coroner read the statement to the j jury as follows : — s William Sheehan states :On yesterday r , I met a girl on the road. I did not know 3 her. In a fit of passion I assaulted her and murdered her. I met her in the plan- _ tation, about dinner time. I knocked her 3 Uown with a stick, and I covered her I over with gorse and went away. I killed ■j her with a knife— the knife found on me. 3 There was no blood on the knife, and j I got none on myself. I don't know what r made me do it at all. I never saw her ; before. I make this statement of my own l free will. No person pressed me .to make '' this statement. \ WILLIAM SHEEHAN. :■ Witness— Lionel Benjamin; 29-4-97. | Witnesses to the signature — James Johnston, . ' Constable ; 29-4-97. [ T. Broham ; 29-4-97. '■ The witness continued: He showed Fraser the knife found on him, and he said ' it was the one he used to do the deed. He was perfectly calm when he made the statement, but previously he was under the influence of excitement, and wept during the day, particularly when witness spoke to him about his friends. This was all the evidence produced. The Coroner said that he would now ask the jury to find a verdict on the evidence adduced. He was aware of the confession, but it was necessary to show a prhna facie case against Fraser, to show that he was in some way connected with the crime, and that his confession was not the hys- [ tarical statement of a man not connected with the crime. He would now direct. the i jury to return a verdict of Wilful Murder against the man Hugh Fraser, alias William Sheehan. The jury, without retiring, found that Agnes Lawcock was wilfully murdered by the man William Sheehan. The jury was then discharged.