THE TERRIBLE AFFAIR AT KANIERI.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 164, 12 October 1880, Page 2

THE TERRIBLE AFFAIR AT KANIERI.

COMMITTAL OF HUTCHISON FOR MURDER. The man Hutchison, who has been accused of the murder of his wife and child in connection with the fire at Kanieri, has been committed for trial on the charge. It will be remembered that the woman and her child met their death under very painful and suspicious circumstances, having been burned alive in their dwelling. On Saturday the R.M. Court at Hokitika was occupied up ,till 7 o’clock in the evening hearing the case. The evidence showed that at the time of the fire Hutchison was fully dressed in coat, vest, trousers, &c. His eldest daughter stated that her father left her youngest sister behind till she called attention to her absence. One of the witnesses stated that it was commonly rumored that this younger daughter was not Hutchison’s own child. Acts of brutality towards his wife, too shocking to be described in print, were proved against him by two female witnesses, and his own ; mate spoke of other acts of violence. It was proved that he stated to Inspector Keely that he had saved nothing from the fire except his gun, lyhich had fallen on his shoulder while trying to arouse his wife. In reality he had saved all his tools, ajbag of food he had bought the night before the fire, a pair of trousers and a spring balance, all of which were in the room where his wife and baby were burnt. It was also proved that the remains of his wife were found in such a position that she could not have been lying on a stretcher insensible as stated by the prisoner at the inquest. A kerosene-tin was found on the floor of the room where his wife and baby were burnt. To the great astonishment of everyone, when the other witnesses had been examined, Mr. Giles, who had presided as Resident Magistrate through the whole of the examination, descended from the Bench and gave evidence both as Coroner and as a member of the College of Surgeons, against the prisoner, and then resum ed his seat on the Bench, and in concert with his brother magistrates, Messrs. Reed, M.H.R., and the Hon. J. Bonar, M.L.C., committed the prisoner for trial.