THE HOKITIKA MURDER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 3960, 12 October 1880, Page 2

THE HOKITIKA MURDER.

♦ (per united press association). HOHITIKA," Oct 12. On Saturday evening David'Hutchison was' committed for .trial for the murder of his wife and infant.. The principal -fcitnes3 was prisoner's mate, named Reardon, who deposed as follows : — I lived on Tucker Flat. I returned home about 11.30 on: the night of the 20thN3ept, and when I came within 30 yards of my own place I heard a woman shriek, and a kind of choking sound followed. I listened and heard the same noise from Hutchison's place. Again listened a while, and as things appeared quiet I walked towards my own place. When I got there I heard a noise again as if there was scrambling on the boards at Hutchison's. I listened for a bit, and as everything was quiet again I went inside and lit a candle, and saw it was about 25 minutes to 12. Soon after that I heard a noise as if furniture was being shifted. . Went to my back window and heard Mrs Hutchison say, " Davy, Davy, what are you going to do?" Heard again the same noise as of a scuffle, and then there was quietness. The scuffle continued about a minute or so. I then saw a light in Hutchison's house. Did not go out for the pur« pose of reconnoitering. When I saw the light I went into my bedroom, and when there thought I heard Hutchison's baby crying. I went to my back window facing the track, and thought I heard a noise of thuds again. The noise ceased quickly, and I went to bed. I thought that prisoner was beating his wife. I have lived near Hutchison's for three or four months. I have heard disputes and quarrels between prisoner and deceased, and thought something serious was going on. I thought at the time the woman's life must have been in danger, but did not care about interfering. Afterwards, I was sorry I did not go. Was aroused next morning between two and three o'clock by Mary and Johnny Hutchison. They sang out that their house was on fire, aud their mother and baby inside. I got up and went out. The dooi was open and the kitchen was in flames. Saw prisoner and children ; the latter were standing some distance away, while prisoner was moving back some things from the fire ; prisoner was crying I think. I asked him where the Missus was and he said she was inside. I got an axe and went to the bedroom window. Could see po fire, but there might have been smoke. I think the door between the bedroom and kitchen, -was closed. Prisoner said his wife was in the kitchen. The space beI tween the door and the stretcher was not on fire on the flooring, which was burning everywhere else. I then went round the house again, and found that the flames had not reached the bedroom. By this time three or four minutes must .have elapsed. I then asked if he had seen his wife, and he told me he shook her by the leg to arouse her, but the heat M r as too strong. He remarked that he might have saved the baby, but for Mary singing out that Maggie was inside. Saw he had saved some blankets, and I asked him how he got them out, as I knew these things had been in the kitchen, and prisoner had on his hat, shirt, trousers, vest, and boots when- 1 saw him. In the morning, about 7 o'clock, the remains of a body were found laying alongside a stretcher. Saw nothing of the remains of the infant at that ! time. There was a heap of chaired bones found near the middle of the room. — Further evidence given by this witness went to show I that prisoner and his wife had quarrelled previously. — About a dozen other witnesses were examined, their evidence being purely circumstantial. It was shown that accused had several articles from the room in which his wife and child were consumed. — Prisoner offered no defence, but by direction of his solicitor said, "I am innocent of the charge."