THE SHOCKING MURDER IN NORTH DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 936, 26 March 1880, Page 3

THE SHOCKING MURDER IN NORTH DUNEDIN.

(Condensed from the Morning Herald.) The inquest was commenced at the Hospital on Wednesday the 17th instant before the City Coroner. Inspector Mallard appeared on behalf of the police. There was nothing further on tho first day taken than the evidence identifying the bodies, when the enquiry was adjourned till the next day. On Thursday the following evidence was taken;— \V. M'Guire, tramoar driver, stated that the decease James Murray Dewar went home in his tram on the Saturday evening from Bunedin, and he (left the car at Da-vid’s-street at a little after 10 o’clock. He was sober. Had known the deceased for several years. Harry Hallendar, deposed that he lived in Cumberland street at tbe rear of deceased’s premises. On Saturday night I returned home at about 11 o’clock, when 1 saw a light in the Bewar’ bedroom. The next morning, w-as awoke by tbe cry of “ fire.” I went to the place, and at the request of Mr Grant, went for a doctor, and brought Dr Niven. R. S. Howorth, butcher, deposed to the facts of having known tbe deceased man for four years, and that be bad been for eight weeks previous to his death in his (witness) employ. I lasi saw him alive on Saturday night at 9 o’clock. Charles Robb, carpenter, deposed that ho lived opposite Dewar’s house, and was awoke at about six ojelock on tbe Sunday morning by the cry of “ tire and-1 awoke my son. James Robb, son of tbe former witness, deposed :—Was a fireman, and that on Sunday morning last he was awoke by his father, and proceeded to the house of the deceased On arriving there, saw smoke curling between the window blind and glass in the bedroom window. He proceeded to tbe back, and entered the house by the back door, which was wide open The house was full of smoke, and on entering tho bedroom fell over the body of the murdered woman. His further depositions goes to prove the Cudsng of Dewar and the child on the bed. The flames had evidently come from underneath tho bed, for ho found after the fire had been extinguished a candlestick underneath the same. There was a chair at the head of the bed, on which there Was a pipe tobacco and matches, and against the wall of the room found an axe. There was no sign of a struggle, and saw no evidence of fire anywhere but about the bed. After the hearing of some further evidence, which did not disclose much further light upon the case, the inquiry was adjourned. On Friday' the inquiry was resumed, when Dr Niven was called, who said, that upon arriving at the scene of the tragedy, he found that the man and child were dead the man having had his brains knocked out as he was lying in bed, and the infant evidently was killed by suffocation produced by the smoke arising from tbe fire. The deceased woman was not dead, she was lying senseless on the floor, having three fractured wounds on the skull. Detective Robert Bain corroborated the above statement, and further that the man named Butler had been discharged from gaol about a month since, and had always been under the surveillance of the police. Butler, when arrested by the police near Waikouaiti, drew a revolver upon the police, and amongst other things found upon him, there was an opera-glass, which is hnown to have been the property of Mr Stamper, whose house was robbed and burned down the night previous to the tragedy now under investigation. Inspector Mallard, who proceeded to Waikouaiti to bring Butler to Dunedin staled that Butler was Very anxious to know with what he was charged. The result of the above protracted inquiry was that Robert Butler was found guilty ot murder of the three deceased. He was also found guilty of feloniously setting tire to the premises. It may be here stated that the above verdicts were signed by only 12 of the jurymen, the two others taking this means of recording their dissent. Butler was discharged from gaol on the 18th of February last, after doing 4 years for burglary. Tbe police, from that time have most jealously kept their eye upon him ; in fact, they can account for the greater portion of his time from his becoming a free man, which procedure was no doubt a wise one, inasmuch as his antecedents would not bear scrutiny, it having come to the knowledge of the authorities (since his conviction in 1876) that he had been convicted in Victoria previously, and sentenced to 14 years penal servitude for robbery underarms. His places of abode were known, and his time can be accounted for, with the exception of some four nights, when he was out, and engaged in some particular business. He would not do m inual work, on the plea that ho was not accustomed to it. He wished, as he stated to tho police to earn his living as a contributor to the.press,.and it can only bo presumed ttjat he would have succeeded in that line as( well as he.did that of instilling into the ■fnfncls ot our Colonial youth tho way to •hoot. On tho evening previously to the murders ho was interviewed by Inspector Bain by appointment. On Thursday night

he slept at the Scotia Hotel, where he remained the following day, and slept there again on the Friday night, and on the same evening left. Here-appeared there on the Sunday momingat about twenty minutes to seven o’clock, when he paid a small account, got a bundle that he had loft there, and went away. He is next heard of purchasing provisions at a store. From that time to his arrest, it is not known positively where he spent his time.

On Monday last he was brought before I. N. Watt, Esq., R.M. on the remanded case of murder upon the above unfortunates, when after a vast amount of evidence was taken, was further adjourned until Wednesday. The remanded charge against the prisoner of attempting to shoot the arresting constrbles was also further adjourned until Monday next.