MURDER OF MR W. G. BAILLIE BY HIS PARTNER.

West Coast Times, Issue 1748, 9 May 1871, Page 3

MURDER OF MR W. G. BAILLIE BY HIS PARTNER.

(From the Fiji Thnes, March 25.)

\ Isy the arrival of the two Messrs Kelt from Suva, we receive the sad intelligence of the murder of Mr William Gray Baillie, who was found in bed with his skull beaten in, on the morning of Monday, the 13th instant. The deceased gentleman was formerly a stock and share broker of Collins-street, Melbourne, and atone time represented Castlcmaine in the Victorian Parliament. He came down here in the ss. Alhambra. lie was a married man, and his wife and daughter lived in one Fiji house, whilst he and his partner (Henry Scott), . by trade a joiner, and late of Collingwood, lived in another, the two houses being about ten yards distant from each other. On the

morning in question Mrs Baillie noticed that the fire was not lighted at the usual time, but was not at all alarmed in conse-

quence. Mr Selloi s went into the house the

deceased occupied for the purpose of getting some fire, and shortly afterward* Miss Baillie went in ; but it would appear that neither of them had noticed anything wrong. Mrs Baillie was the next to enter the dwelling,' when her attention was arrested by noticing some blood stains on the mosquito screen, and upon approaching the bed for a closer examination, she found that her husband was dead. From the appearance of the body it would seem as if the deceased had been seized by the throat and his head beaten iti with a tomahawk or other heavy weapon. There could not have been any struggle, for evidently he had been attacked suddenly and without the least warning. The body was still warm, and as the decked had been reading until about 3 o'clock in the fcnoruing, it is supposed that the murder was committed about an hour afterwards. An inquest was held on the body tbe same day, at which Mr Brewer presided, when a verdict of wilful murder was returned against llenry Scott, who had disappeared, taking with him a rifle, revolver, and one hundred and eighty soverogn-, the latter beiug the property of the Messrs Kelt, who had deposited it with Messrs Baillie and Scott for safe keeping, their plantation bi.ing about two miles in the bush. A reward of £5 has been offered for Scott's apprehension, and every effort is being made by the Suva people in conjunction with the natives, and it is thought impossible that he can escape. His likeness has been left at the British Consulate, and if the search for him is attended with success he will be brought down to Levuka and handed over to the Consul, who will send him to Sydney by the first vessel leaving after his arrival. Scott has been » for some time past, and is still suffering W from ulcerated legs. About ten days prc- ¥ viously the deceased and Scott were at Rewa when they had a dispute, and they had had some words on the day preceding the murder. The greatest sympathy is felt for the bereaved family in their affliction and sorrow at the awful and untimely end of Mr Baillie, who, as an old resident of Victoria, and as a recent settler here, commanded the respect of all who knew him.