CHARGE OF WIFE-MURDER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1070, 27 October 1882, Page 3

CHARGE OF WIFE-MURDER.

Auckland, October 20. A sensational rumour of a most remarks ble nature baa been in circulation through out the city during the last week, and as moat serious allegations have been contained in the srories afloat, the police have at last been compelled to take measures to ascertain whether or no there is any truth in them. It was known more than a week ago that a girl living in the neighbourhood of Wellington street had made charges which, it true, practically amounted to murdei ( against her father. Inquiries set on fooi by the police led to several interviews between Superintendent Thompson and the Coroner, Dr Philson, and eventually re suited in the exhumation of the body of Mrs Hedges, a woman who died here six teen months ago. This step was taken to day, a warrant being issued bv the Coroner in the morning, and the body taken up late \ in the afternoon by the police. It will be opened in the presence of Dr Goldsbro, who will conduct the post mortem examination, and have the stomach forwarded to the Government analyst for analysis. The following are the alleged circum stances which it is stated induced the police authorities to taka proceedings. In August, 1879, a man named John Cobb Hedges left London for Auckland, accompanied by his wife, four daughters, and a son. They arrived here three months later, and went to live in a house off the lower part of Wellington street, which they still occupy The mother died on the 20th June, 1881, and Dr Bayntun, who was called in during her last moments, gave a certificate to the e effect that death was the result of apoplexy Amy Charlotte Hedges, the eldest daughter, who is 16 years of age, has made the allegations referred to in the statement to the police and private persons. She says that some time before they left London her father sent her out to purchase some arsenic, with which he intended to poison rats and mice. She procured it at the shop of one Boothey, a chemist, in Crawford street, Edgware road, London, West. Some of it was placed on bread and left for rats. She i did not see the bottle containing the poison after till the Sunday before her mother’s death. Mrs Hedges died on Monday, June 20, 1881. She had been ill for some time, 1 and almost entirely confined to bed during the two months prior to her demise. One day previous to the Monday in question she (the daughter) was in an excited state of mind concerning the state of her mother’s health, and going to the bedroom window and looking through the room from the verandah, she saw her father at the bedside. He was feeding her mother, who was lying on the bed. The girl says that she is positive that she saw the 1 ottle of arsenic in his hand. The food that was being given consisted of eeg, and when she saw this bottle she cried out to her mother —“ Mother, don’t take any of that down your throat, or you will be dead.” The girl says she then screamed out to some neighbours who lived next door. She went into the house and continued the performance of her household duties, Her father shortly afterwards came out of the bedroom and conversed with her next door neigh- ■ * hour, who had been attrated by her cries. She, however, did not hear what they were talking about. Next day she went to her work at service in Karangababe road as usual, and her father also went to his work, leaving before her. The mother died at - twenty minutes to 3 that afternoon. Mrs Lemon, the next door neighbour, had her attention called during the day ti the bad state of Mrs Hedges, and when she went in and saw her low condition she went for Dr Bayntun without delay. He came to see the sufferer, but he said he was too late to do any good, and that she was dying. Death took place immediately afterwards, and tbe ] doctor subsequently gave a certificate of death from apoplexy. A message was sent to Hedges at the same time as when Dr Bayntun was called, but he did not reach the house until two hours after the death. The girl did not know till night that the doctor was called in during the illnees, but - it appears that Hedges was in the habit of ' treating his wife wi'h homoeopathic medicines, which he kept in the house. The | funeral took place on June 22, 1881. Hedges, who was the husband of the de- ■ ceased woman, is a tailor employed at Murcbie’s. The girl strenuously asserts he is only her stepfather, but he is prepared to prove otherwise. He was married to Mrs Hedges, 17 years ago, and the girl in question was horn 16 years ago. Amy Hedges adheres strictly to her statement, and mentions the muni sof persons who have told her that Hedges was only her stepfather. She also says her mother assured her on this point. In a further statement the girl Amy Hedges said her mother had told her sister, a girl nine years of age, that her father had given her somethin.' which hastened her death It is only fair to Hedges to say that the po’ice interviewed the child in the presence of the head-master of the school which she attends. She said that she re membered the Sunday before the death of her mother, and the fact of her father ad ministering the food referred to. but she did not hear her sister call, nor did she remember what her mo’her was alleged to have said. Amy Hedges has also made other charges of a most serious nature against hsi father or stepfather. Doubt is expressed concerning the truth of the allegations regarding the poisoning, and pending the result of the analysis the police do not consider it necessary to interfere with the liberty of Hedges. Arthur Wood, a butcher of Wellington street, corroborated the girl’s statement so far as hearing her talk of her mother being poisoned on the 30th September and on the 12th October last. Hedges bears a good character from his neighbours, and so far as is known is a respectable man. Suspicion rests entirely upon the most improbable statements by the girl, which she has delayed making for an unaccountably long time, and they lack as yet any kind of corroboration. W.iether the girl is labouring under an hallucination or is actuated by malice remains to he proved. October 21. Dr Goldsboro made a post mortem examination on the remains of the late Mrs Hedges, who. it is alleged, died by arsenic poisoning. The contents of the stomach were forwarded to the Government analyst, Mr Pond. Additional evidence goes to show that the daughter who informed has been eccen trie and .subject to fainting fits, and claimed to see visions. She had run away from home several times. Mr Bell, who live* with Hedges for four months, states that Mrs Hedges informed him on one occasion that unless the girl got hotter she would have to bo put under restraint. ' ! October 22. It has transpired that Dr Goldsboro ! found the body of Mis Hedges in a ba< I state of preservation, and the most impor- ! I tant organs missing. Tho body was reini terred last night,