SHOCKING MURDER IN NORTH DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 935, 19 March 1880, Page 3

SHOCKING MURDER IN NORTH DUNEDIN.

(Condensed fiom the Morning Herald ) Cumberland-street, nearly Opposite Colter’s Hotel, North Dunedin, was on Sunday morning last the scene of what there is every reason to believe is one of the, most [ cruel and coolly planned murders which 1 has ever oeen committed m New Zealand The subjects of this terrible outrage were— Ja.„es Dewar, his wi e, and child. Mr Dewar was a butcher by trade, and about thirty years of ago, and was married about eighteen months ago to a daughter of Mr Aitchesotr, of North East Valley. .Mr Dewar was not known to have had money irr the house, and therefore it is hardly probable that the murder was designed for the sake of plunder. He was, so far as We have been able to learn, last s en alive at nine o’clock on Saturday evening, when he returned from Dune lin in one of the tram-cars, and bidding the driver “ Good night,” alighted opposite his own house. He ha 1 no'’companion in the car, so unless he returned to Dunedin at a later hour in the evening, there is no foundation for Iko statement that a stranger, who was brought home by the deceased, lodged in the house on Saturday night. They resided in a three,roorne 1 cottage, which stood about twenty yards from the street, and is surrounded by a high paling fence. The windows of the front rooms can Ire readily seen from p obably a score of the opposite houses, and immediately at the back of the house, Mr Dewar's mother and step father, Mr and Mrs Grant reside, whose bedroom window commands an excellent view of the back door of Mr Dewar’s premises. As Mr ami Mrs Dewar were known to live together on the best of terms, there is no reason to suppose that the crime was not the result of a third party, ami indeed that the idea that the wounds were self-inflicted in either ca-e is negatived by the opinion of medical men, who unhesitatingly declare that in neither case con'd they have hj e r so produced. The instrument used was an American axe, and Mr Dewar’s skull was cleft with one blow, and death must have been instantaneous 1c is evident that he was attacked while he was asleep, and that after the blow he never moved The murderer then turned on Mrs Dewar, and inflicted three wounds on the left side of the head with the back of the axe. One of the blows mast have been a very violent one, as it almost carried away the ear. She was n > doubt simpose 1 to be killed also, but in this the nrtti in was mistaken, as although she was left unconscious, life was not extinct. An infant child was sleeping in the he 1 at the time, but no attack was made on it, hut ir was suffocated by the smoke The work of raur er having now been completed, a lighted candle was placed under the bed with the view of destroying all traces of the crime. We shall now give in detail the abatements of those who were first on the scene. Mr James Robb, a member of the Dunedin Fire Brigade, said that at 5 30 a m. rny father, who lives on the opposite side of the road, saw smoke issuing from Dewar’s cottage and aroused me. I put on my Brigade troase-s and ran across aril knocked at the front door and found it locked. 1 received no answer, and then I ran round to the hack door. It was wide open, and I went in and on through the passage to the front rooms. The passage was furl of smoke- indeed, so much so that I had to crawl on my hands and knees. When I got to the door of the bedroom [ heard a gurgling sound, and I shouted “Get up,” but again received no answer. 1 still kept on my face and hands, and shortly after entering the room I touched something and found tir.it it was a body, but T could not, see it, the room was so full of smoko 1 could not stand up in it. 1 picked n;> a bucket and ran out at the back and p -t it under a tap and then roused up rhe Grants. Mrs Grant came to the door. I cried. “ Quick, quick, thol e’s a fire ” She sai l, “ What ! ” I then ran into the bclrnom and throw the bucket of water on to the fl iraos, and went nut again and cade I a m in named Freeman. who lives on Lambeth Road, and tol l him there was a lire, and to hand me on the buckets. When I put nut the fire I stretched my hand across the bed and felt the child. 1 lifted it out and carried it into the kitchen to Mrs Grant. A number of other men now arrived, and we found Dewar Ring on his hack in the bed. He had a wound on the head and was quite '’onl. His hands rested on his breast, and he had a very composed appearance. The bedclothes were on fire, and were partly turned down, the blankets being up to Mr Dewar’s breasts A lighted candle was under tire bed, and it was this which had set it, on lire Mr Dewar was lying on r.he outside of the bed, and tbe child was on the off side next the wall. The ax.was standing between the bed and the door. James Hayden, an expressman, says that ho was awakened at about J in th i morn ing— he is pretty sure of the time—by a loud noise at the back. He thought that the roof of his stable had he -n’ carried away. Ho got up, went r,n the hack door, hut saw nothing except that a dim light, as of a candle, burning in the sitting-room of Dewar. Observing nothing to alarm him. or account tor the noise, he returned to his bed, and was awoke again shortly afrer six by hearing a cry of lire. He hurriedly dressed himself and went to his hack door, when he saw Mr Grant, senior, standing in front of Dewar’s door. Grant called on him to go for a doctor All the windows of the house were then closed, hut the hack door was still open. Hayden did not go into the house, except to help to put Mrs Dewar into the express. Mrs Dewar was lying in the passage between the two rooms, and was utter ing low moans. The only light he saw was in the sitting-room, hut whether it was a candle or kerosene lamp he could not remember. He testifies that the Dewars were exceedingly quiet neighbours, anH ho never heard of them quarrelling, or of the slightest thing to warrant the supposition that they did not live happily. Dr Niven arrived at 7 o’clock. Mrs Dewar was then lying in the passage, and was suffering from three wounds on the head. He had no hesitation In saying that the wounds were inflicted by the axe. From the nature of the larger wound, he considered her recovery doubtful. Mrs Dewar was removed to the Hospital in the forenoon, and was attended by Dr Brown, who performed the neccessary operations to restore consciousness. He has no hesitation in saying that the wounds were not self inflicted in either Case. The deal bodies of Mr Dewar and child were also removed to the Hospital during the afternoon. At present the affair is clouded in mystery, hut as the police are making inquiries we trust that the (matter may be speedily cleared up. Mrs Dewar died at 12.30. The following telegram was published by us as ah “ Extra” on Wednesday : Dunedin, March I7th. A man named Butler, alias Donnelly, alios Medway, alias Lees, who has just been released from gaol, after undergoing four years iniprisonraerltfor burglary, was arrested at Waikouaiti on Monday hy^Constahlcs

Townshend and Coulbourne, he was armed with a six-shooter fully loaded, which Constable Townshend knocked out of his hand. Butler was brought up at the City Police Court yesterday, and charged with the murder of Mr and Mrs Dewar ; also, with arson at Mr Stamper’s, whose residence was burned down on Saturday morning last; likewise with attempting to shoot Constable Townshend. Some of Mr Stamper’s property was found ou him. Tito inquest on the bodies will be bold to day. Butler his been remanded till the 22ud.

At the City Police Court on Tuesday morning, Robert Butler was placed in the dock. The Clerk of the Court real an inf .lunation—laid by Andrew Robert Townsend, constable of Waikouaiti—charging R inert Butler, alias Donnelly, alias Midway, alias Thomas Lees, that he “ on the 1 kli March 1880, at Dunedin, feloniously, wilfully, ami of his malice aforethought, did kill and and murder one James Dewir, Elizabeth Dew.ai, and Elizabeth Dewar, an infant, against the peace of our Lady tko Queen, her crown and dignity.” Inspector Mallard asked that the further information might also lie read. This was done. It was also laid by Constable Townsend, and read tint the prisoner “on 15th March, 1880, at Main North road, near Dunedin, did present, point and level at and against one James Andrew Townsend certain loaded arms—to wit, a pistol, then loaded with gunpowder and six leaden bullets—and did then feloniously attempt to discharge the same at the said James Andrew Townsend, with intent in so doing, then and there, feloniously, wilfully, and of his m dice aforethought, to kill and murder the said Janies Andrew Townsend ” Inspector Mallard said : The accused was apprehended yesterday by Constable Townsend, of VVaikouaiti, and Constable Colbourne, of Blueskin. His Worship : He was apprehended, I presume on the first of these informations. Inspector Mallard : Ho, your Worship j on the second information. He was apprehended on the charge of attempting to shoot Constable d’ows ind and Constable Colbourne Subsequent inquiries, made by mvsetf an 1 Detective Henderson at Waikomiiti, caused tiie charge of murder to In entered. Ami since we arrive lin Dunedin this morning with prisoner, I deem it my duty to point out that, from what we have learned, it is likely there will bo a third charge laid against the prisoner. At present I am not prepared to say of what nature that charge will be—whether it will take the shape of a charge of arson in connection with the burning down of Mr Stamper’s house, or whether it will take the shape of burglary at Mr Stamper’s. His Worship : Mr Stanford’s house ; the Rev. Mr Stanford? Inspector Nallard : Oh, no ; Mr Stamper, the solicitor. There was a fire at Mr Stamper’s house mi Saturday morning. A man—or at least someone—was seen about the place, and upon the pris m rsome of Mr Stamper property has been found aud indentitiel. this morning. So tint the third ch irge will take the shape of burglary or arson, I cannot say which. I only mention this now so that the prisoner cannot say 1 have kept, anything back I know. His Worship : Then do you adr for a remand because at present you nre uot prepared to go on with the charges? Inspector Mallard : No ; 1 ask for it because it is necessary that the prisoner should be present at the inquest. We only got into town a little while ago, and 1 have not had time to see the Coroner. He did intend to hold the inquest to-day, but at my request last night he deferred it, and no precept has bean issue 1. I have not had time to see the Coroner. Matters have now assumed such, an aspect that I cannot sav at the present moment what course I shall have to take. I hj ive just been informed by Defective Bain that the Coroner intends holding the inquest to morrow. I will go at once aud see him. At present the application I make is that the prisoner may bo remanded on those two charges. His Worship: Until when ? Inspector Mallard : 1 suggest until Monday, mid then, of course, if we want a further remand we can apply for it. His Worship (to prisoner): You are reman led until Monday next, the 22ml inst., on both charges. Prisoner was then removed.

The accused was in the year 1376 was a lesilent in Croinw«ll, and was teacher in the Catholic school there ; lie was dismisse l for irregular con luet, an I was suspicte 1 of having robbeil the Uev. Father Kohoeof a consiilerahle sum of money. Shortly af tenvarrls he was convicted of numerous robberies in Dunedin, and sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment. He was discharged fron gaol on Ihe 18th February hist. The Polina Gazette states that in the year iu Victoria he was sente iced to fourteen years’ penal servitude for highway robbery under arms.