SHOCKING. MURDER.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 368, 15 March 1871, Page 2

SHOCKING. MURDER.

Ok December 24 the village of Camelon, near Falkirk, was thrown into the greatest state of excitement on it becoming known that a brutal and unprovoked murder had been committed in the Nailer's Square.at Lock 16 on the Forth and Clyde Canal. The victim is a nailmaker named Henry McGiney, and the alleged murderer is a labourer named James Rosa, who was employed at the chemical works of Mr. Ross, in the neighbourhood. The alleged homicide was in a house in Camelon, occupied by a shoemaker named George Henry, and who is known by the cognomen of "Poodles;" In the course of the evening a considerable quantity of drink was consumed, but none of the party present indicated that they were much the worse of what they had had. Ross, after quarrelling with his wife and threatening "to do" for some one, proceeded home, and finding the door of his house locked and his wife absent, forced in the window, by which he entered. The noise attracted the attention of Henry McGiney, who asked, "What is wrong with you, Captain, to-night ?"—that being the name by which Ross was familiarly known, he having been some years at sea. Ross, in reply, said he wanted to get out, and McGiney goodhumouredly said "that ho might come out as he went in." Ross declined to do so. He said he would come out by the door, if McGiney would assist him to break it up. McGiney at first refused, but subsequently he consented, and by the combined efforts of the' two the door was forced open. On Ross emerging from his house he caught hold of McGiney, and, as described by a lad named Risk, who witnessed the scene, the two men seemed to close together. By an extreme effort McGiney got clear, and was immediately pursued by Ross. Uunfortunately, however, McGiney, before he was many yards from his assailant, slipped in the snow and fell. Hobs at once got on the top of him, and, as the lad Risk Btates, he gathered himself over McGiney, and almost simultaneously he heard the latter shouting that " Ross was shoving a knife into him." The poor fellow only spoke a single sentence after he was brought into the house. Immediately after the commission of this terrible act, Ross went into his own house and deliberate washed the knife which, there is little doubt, was the instrument of death. After drying it, he put it in his pocket, and then, undressing himself, he turned into bed and fell soundly asleep, and was only awakened by the cold shackles of the police being put on him. Nothing has transpired which could suggest auy reason for the commission of the fearful act. Jealousy is mooted, but as yet this may be regarded as merely conjectural.