THE ACCUSED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5861, 1 May 1897, Page 6

THE ACCUSED.

Hugh Praser, or, as ho admits his ; name to be, William Sheehaa, is quite a young-looking man, and gives , his age as twenty. He is about sft | llin in height, with longish arms and legs. He stoops slightly when walking, and his chest is somewhat contracted. He is fair, and has a very slight moustache and whiskers. His neck is very much swollen . from goitre. His mouth is largo and drooping, with rather thick lips. Ho has small blue, furtive-looking eyes, with which he appeared to watch every inove\ment. His nose is large, as are also his ears, which stand out prominently. He appeared to be quite unconcerned, and apparently did not seem to understand his position. Coming down in the train he smoked cigarettes and chatted with his guards, and he did not take the slightest notice of the crowds which had gathered at the various stations anxious to get a glimpse of him. Just after leaving Kaiapoi he asked for the evening papers i which contained an account of the inquest upon Miss Lawcock. Upon this request being refused, he became sullen, and seldom spoke for the remainder of the journey. Upon meeting a hostile reception at Lyttelton he, for the first time, showed alarm, and he was trembling , violently when his handcuffs .were . re- -, moved in the gaol. During the time ho I was in the lock-up at Amberley ho was never left, and appeared very much troubled until after he had made his confession, after which he became apparently calm, and slept fairly well during the night which followed. When arrested he was wearing a light wide-awake hat, which was too large for him, and strange to say, tbo padding, when removed, was found to be a piece of newspaper containing the report of the Petone murder trial. The accused states that he is the son of a bootmaker in Wellington, where ho was born, and that his mother died before he was old enough to remember her. He says that he left home ten or eleven years .ago, and has been roaming tho country ever since. A complaint was received by the police some days ago that a tent and two pairs of trousers had been stolen from Yaldhursfc, and the accused was suspected of the robbery, as he answered to the description of the man who was seen about the premises from which the things were missed. When he was arrested ho was U3ing the missing tent as a bed covering, and one pair of the trousers which had been stolen was found in his swag. Another complaint was made that a man answering the prisoner's description had assaulted a married woman at Shand's Track on April 15, and the woman, who was in court at Amberley yesterday, identified the accused as the man who had committed the assault. The accused has been traced as having tramped from Shand's Track to Springfield and thence to Oxford, and .crossing the Ashley he made his Avay along the Mount Grey Downs to Amberloy. [Prom Our Correspondent.] ' ■ WELLINGTON, April 30. . The news that the man arrested for the inhuman murder of Miss Lawcock had confessed his guilt did not reach here in time to appear in tho evening paper, but large crowds were apprised of the fact by a notice in tho window of the Evening Post. The generality of people are struck with horror at the barbarity of the crime.

more especially with the families of those who lost their lives in tho gallant attempt to save others. A great many collectors were appointed to take in the whole of the Geraldine and Mount Peel Road Board districts, and from a subscription list got up in the hall the sum of over .£ls was raisod. A public meeting was held at Lyttelton last night to consider what steps should be taken to raise funds for tho sufferers by the floods in Hawke's Bay, and also to decide what steps should bo taken to commemorate tho Record Reign. The Mayor (Mr A. Chalmers) occupied the chair. The meeting was only moderately attended, and included several ladies. The Mayor explained tho objects of tho nieeting,| and said that, while ho was o jopinion [that they should assist the sufferers by the flood, he yet hoped that they would bo able to assist in the extension of the Jubilee Homo. Mr W. Eadcliffe moved—" That the public of Lyttelton be invited to subscribe on behalf of tho sufferers by tho floods in Hawko's Bay, and that any money coming in after May 24 should be devoted to the extension of tho Jubilee Home." The motion was seconded by Mr J. Joyce and carried. A committee, consisting of Mesj dames ' Clark, Whitby and Brown, the members of tho Borough Council, representatives from the various Friendly Societies, the ministers of tho various denominations, Drs Pairman and Guthrie, . Messrs J. Joyce, H. N. Nalder, and H.N. Hiskens and G. A. Lewin, witli power to add to their number, was appointed. The Mayor was appointed honorary treasuror. A meeting of tho committee was afterwards hold, at which Mr Field was aiithorised to collect from the shipping, while Mr Eadcliffe undertook to start a canvass of the town. It was decided to call a meeting of ladies for Tuesday next, at 4 p.in., and a number of minor details Avore left to tho Chairman. A voto of thanks to tho Mayor for calling and presiding concluded tho business. A meeting of tho Delsarto Quadrille Assembly took place last evening. It was decided to call a meeting of tho ladies of Christchiu-ch and suburbs for Tuesday next, May 4, at 3 p.m., in tho Art Gallery, to decido upon the best coiu-se to pursue in order to ensuro the success of tho social and danco to be given in aid of tho Hawke's Bay Relief Fund. Tho Misses Creagh's offer of a band for the evening was accepted with thanks. A number of ladies sent offers of assistance. Tho Secretary was instructed to reply, accepting in each case.