THE MURDER NEAR AUCKLAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 811, 6 December 1882, Page 2

THE MURDER NEAR AUCKLAND.

The Inquest. [by telegraph.] Auckland, To-day. Tho inquest on Mrs Crowley took place yesterday, at Whitefoord Park Farm. Mr Hesketh watched the procoedin s on behalf of the prisoner, who seemed the least interested person in the Court. His manner was listless and indifferent. He seated himself on the hob of the fireplace, and did not move for hours or manifest the slightest comprehension of what was transpiring. Towards the close, apparently wearied of the sitting posture he had assumed, he stood up. A pitiful object he seemed to be : his manner absent, his features pale, and set off by his dark scrubby whiskers, their pallor seemed greater. The evidence of Crowley’s daughter, Mr Frater, and others waa taken. Several witnesses gave evidence to the effect that since the fall prisoner sustained a fortnight ago his manner had been stranger. One witness, •Ambrose Trust, deposed to the change in his manner as well as looks. He did not seem to be as lively as he was before, or so communicative, but appeared depressed and to have lost his spirits. “He was generally very communicative with me,” said this witness, “ when we met, but he

was not V(T on this occasion It appeared * to me that the man’s health was failing, - and that he had suffered some shockJ Ten days ago I advised him to sea a doctor, and this was repeated during the week, and again was repeated last Saturday by Mr Frater, Mr Hack, and myself. Dr. Fitzgerald, who examined the body of the murdered woman, ’ deposed that there was a large wound on the right temple, a triangular wound four inches wide and five inches long, extending deep into the base of the brain close v to that over the right eye, there was an--ether triangular wound four inches wide and four inches deep, also into thO base of the brain. The whole of the orbit of the right eye was gone, and the forehead wtt& r . smashed to bits. The roof of the mouth, the upper jaws on both sides and the teeth were gone. : The lower j»w was i gone on both sides, and there was not a whole tooth r in Iter head. All were smashed to powder. The first wound would cause instant death. The others were given after she was dead. : After a verdict pf “ Wilful murder ” had been returned, the prisoner had an interview “ 1 with his daughter, and the former subsa-;. quently made provision for the daughter’s maintenance. " , ’ f