THE MURDER NEAR AUCKLAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 810, 5 December 1882, Page 2

THE MURDER NEAR AUCKLAND.

The Daughter’s Statement. [by telegraph.] • Auckland, To-day. Mary Crowley, aged 16, daughter of the Howick murderer, has made the following statement:—Her father went to the shell where his shirt was put. It was on the table. It was clean, but not starched or ironed, and he began ironing it \vith the cold iron. He seemed, very quiet when ironing the shirt, and when he came into ihe kitchen, all he said was “ that I must not go to Howick.” I went into the front room to go through it to the bedroom to tie the necktie. I went in for it. He was still ironing tha shirt, and mother and father were not talking. I went into the kitchen, £ and heard no quarrelling between, them, but heard mother ask father why he did not put on a shirt that was itoned. This was a new shirt that had never been worn, and he said, “ No, I will not put it on.”. She made no remark. Then I heard nomore quarrelling ; but about ten minutes after that I heard blows—more than one. I heard mother screaming. Before I heard the blows I heard no quarrelling or nagging. Mother was not scolding him that morning. When he brought in the iron ..he said to mother, “ Here’s your iron, youcan put it away,” but she did not reply. I did not hear either of them speak again after that until I heard the screaming. Five minutes after then from the sound I could tell father had knocked mother down. I ran into the room. Mother was then stretched on the floor near the window, and I saw father standing up alongside her with an iron- in hie hand. 1 noticed blood on her face* and when I saw it I ran away. 1 saw him strike before I ran. When I ran to the kitchen on hearing the scream I could see into the front room, for the kitchen door opened into the front room. 1 only heard the first blow, for I did not see him knock her down. But she lay with her head toward the bedroom, and when I %ot in he was standing near her head, and I saw father strike her with the iron on the face. I only saw one blow, then ran out. She was making no noise at that time, and did not after she screamed. I ran out when I saw the blow, and went to Mr Frater’s, the manager. I told him I believed that father had killed my mother. He was queer in his manner and wore his Sunday clothes to work. It is not true sh; was constantly “jawing ” and n nagging ” at father, and it was he waa constantly “jawing” her. She used to say that lie spent his money at He used to answer her back. He used to go to How ck sometimes, but seldom got drunk. He had no drink lately, and had none that morning. My stepmother used tc treat me very well. Father had no reason to complain of her conduct to me. She scolded sometimes, but on the whole treated me kindly. I have no reason to complain of her treatment.