THE OAMARU TRAGEDY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 685, 11 July 1882, Page 2

THE OAMARU TRAGEDY.

As stated in our last issue, the inquest on the body of Sarah Adams commenced yesterday at Peebles, fourteen miles from Oamaru. Beattie’s interests were watched by Mr O’Meagher, solicitor, of Oamaru. The principal evidence (after that relating to the blood-stained razor, which we published yesterday) was Dr Delatour’s, who made the post mortem examination. The Doctor said :—The bruises could not have been on the body a fortnight before death, they must have been indicted within a short time of death. Witness had tested the iron chemically with Dr Day’s test, which gave the re-action of blood, and microscopically found that there were one or two corpuscles similar to blood of mammals. The spots on the carving knife have the same results as the iron bar. The blood on the razor gave the blood test chemically, and on microscopic examination witness found mammal’s blood, some stripsd muscuLr fibre, and woollen fibre. The blood from the handle of the razor gave the chemical test, and also gave the absorption bands faintly in the spectrum analysis. The position of these bands corresponded exactly with those in his (witness’) own blood. The blood on the chips from the floor of the hut gave the sign of mammal’s blood. He also tested a piece from the inside of a large frieze Ulster coat which was found in the hut, some stains on which appear to have been washed out, which gave signs of roam*, mal’s blood, as also did a sheet found.

By the Jury : Witness examined some fowl's blood on a razor after some hours’ exposure, which gave signs of blood by the chemical test and by the_ spectrum analysis, but microscopically it showed fie fowl’s blood quite distinct from the blood on the other razor. He examined the hair found on the handkerchief. It resembled human hair, but he was not prepared to swear it was so. He compared it with hair cut from deceased’s head, and found them very similar. He examined some blood on a pair of moleskin trousers found there by Constable Livingstone, which gave all the reactions characteristic of mammal’s blood, but very faintly under the spectroscope. The spots on the trousers were all below the knee. There are twenty-five witnesses to be examined, and the enquiry will probably last some days. [by telegraph.] Oamabtt, To-day. The inquiry touching the death of Sarah Adams was continued at Peebles to-day. The evidence produced went to show that on the 7th of June the woman was alive, but in a very excited and nervous state, and that she repeatedly told one witness that her husband intended to kill her. This witness said he did not believe the statement, therefore had not repeated it to anyone. When Beattie was told his wife had said he intended to kill her, he changed color, started, and appeared alarmed. .