ALLEGED MURDER.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 441, 12 October 1880, Page 3

ALLEGED MURDER.

From the Lyttelton Times

Hokitika, Oct 9.

Up to 7 p.m. yesterday, the Resilient Magistrate's Court was occupied with the case of the man Hutchison, charged with the murder of his wife and child at ivanieri. The evidence showed that at the time of the fire he was fully dressed in coat, vest, trousers, boots &c, that he saved a gun, which was hanging in the kitchen, where his wife was lying, and some other articles including a bag of food. 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. The case is proceeding this

morning.

The whole of the day has been occupied with Hutchison's case. He has been committed to take his trial for murder at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. Acts of brutality towards his wife, too shocking to be described in print, were proved by two female witnesses, and his own mate spoke of other acts of violence. It was proved that he stated to Inspector Keely tliat he had saved nothing from the fire except his gun, which had fallen on his sin ulder while trying to arouse his wife. In reality he had saved all his tools, a bag 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 tound in such a position that sue could not have been lying on the stretcher insensible as stated by the prisoner at the inquest. A kerosene-tin was found on the floor of the room where his Avife and baby were burnt, To the great astonishment of everyone when the wittnesses 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 resumed his scat on the Bench and in concert with his brother magistrates, Messrs Keid, M.H.TI, and the Hon J. Bonar M.L.C., committed the prisoner for trial.