THE DEATH IN A PRISON CELL AT AUCKLAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 821, 18 December 1882, Page 2

THE DEATH IN A PRISON CELL AT AUCKLAND.

The inquest on Hooton, the chemist, respecting whose sudden death in a cell at Momt Eden gaol we had a telegram in our lust issue, resulted in a verdict of “ Died from serious sanguineous apoplexy.” Up till some three or four months ago Thomas Hooton, with his wife, rest led at Coroman iel, and while there made the acquaintance of the family of the Raynors. Air and Mrs Hooton, owing to the former’s intemperate habits, lived very unhappily together, and by his cruel treatment Mrs Hooton was frequently driven to seek refuge under the friendly roof of the Raynors, who, on more than ore occasion, protected her from her husband’s violence. Hooton does not seem to have appreciated the interference of the Rayncrs, and, indeed, conceived a violent dislike for them, which found expression in threats and inuendoes when he was worse for liquor. About three months ago Hooton came to reside at Devenport, where the Raynors had also taken up their residence, and indeed both families occupied apartments in the same house. Hooton commenced business on Queen street wharf as chemist and druggist, and though for a short time he was steady he soon relapsed into his old intemperate habits, and his unfortunate wife led a life of even greater unhappiness than before. One day last week, stung to desperation by his cruelty, she rushed imo the part of the house occupied by Raynors and claimed their protection. This so incensed Hooton that he threatened to mu.der not only his wife but Raynor’s als >. The day after Mi's Hooton’s flight her husband borrowed L 5 from a friend, ostensibly for the purpose of purchasing a revolver and ammunition for the protection of the house from burglars, but, as the sequel proved, really with the intention of carrying out his murderous threats. Hooton’s next step was to load the weapon, a sixchambered revolver, and proceed to the North Shore. On Monday evening last the Misses Raynor happened to be on the wharf as the ferry steamer came alongside. They recognised Hooton, and observin' he was armed came to the conclusion he was about to carry out his thread. They hastened home and gave the a'anu. Pre-

sently a knock came to the door,' andMiza. Raynor, arming herself with a stick* pro* - - ceeded to answer the summons. She did not think it was Hooton, consequently hcl terror was great when on opening ho door she found herself looking down upon the tube of the revolver presented at her-’ by the semi-inebriated chemist. Fortunately M*ss Raynor, with admirahle pra- - sence of mind, promptly struck the revolver upwards, the blow apparently at the same time causing Hooton’s hand to relax its pressure on the trigger. The weapon , w.-.s fully loaded, capped, and cooked! Just as Miss Raynor had performod this’act of bravery her younger sister and her father appeared on the scene, and without much ad); wrested’ the revolver from his grasp and handed him over to the police authorities. Hooton has been employed in the estab- ... lishment of Messrs Potter and Co., merchants, Durham street. Since his arrest he wrote a letter to his brother, fully expressing his determination to “ shoot * Raynor. ” Mrs Hooton states she visited her husband in gaol, and that he then made use of threats that he would murdef- 1 Raynor. He informed her that he had j arranged with John, his brother, to look ■ after the children. Hooton has boen io y' the colony three years, arriving at Wei-/ lington, from England, in the ship. Merivale, in 1879. : -■ • '■> 1 i * -