ALLEGED MURDER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1078, 22 December 1882, Page 3

ALLEGED MURDER.

What appears to be a serious case of pi nr der occurred at Auckland recently. The particulars of Hamilton’s death, which it was supposed was caused by his falling against the foot of hj s bed through stumbling in; the dark and fracturing fiis skull, have h- en already telegraphed, and were regarded as suspicious at the timv. There were apparent centradictions in Mrs Hamilton’s statement, and several improbabilities in connection with the affair which, imparted a sinister colouring to it in the light of subsequent discoveries. Certain suspicious pai Honiara which had come out mean time warranted the utmost vigilance of search and scrutiny. - Suspicion pointed to a young man named Priestly. Numbers of people were reported to be in possession of evidence of a more or less daranato y eharac*er. It was alleged amongst other things that a blood-stained axe had been seen in Mrs H aftl ilton’s house, and that she had carefully concealed it ; and that' Priestly had been noticed about the house on the night of the 28th ult. The dwelling places of both prisoners were searched. Sufficient evidence was obtained to justify Superin tendenf Thompson in issuing warrants for the arrest of both Mrs Hamilton and Priestly. lii:the woman’s house an old and greatly used American axe was discovered, which to a, casual observer presented no unusual appearance. The critical eye of the detective However perceived some stains upon tb.c blnat.edge of the iron h»ad, and along a considerable portion of the handle. Both the wood and metal looked as if there had been a recent attempt made to cleanse them but it is assumed that the effort to erase the suspicious looking stains had not been entirely successful. Amongst Priestly’s cloth ing further suspicious evidence was brought to 'light. A pair of very daik tweed trousers, somewhat worn in appearance, were found loosely packed away in his trunk with other clothing, and after a cursory inspection a dark coloured spot of blood was detected at the very bottom of one If '. The searchers also came across a handkerchief stained here and there withblood. With this fresh and highly sinister evidence to hand, Superintendent Thomson determined to stay proceedings no longer. Accordingly warrants were made out for the arrest of Mrs Hamilton and Thou Piestly on a charge of wilful murder, and Detedtives Stiathearn and Walker were commissioned to execute them without delay. Hugh Aitken Hamilton, the de.ceasetl.. was a tall powerfully built man, 31 years of age, of florid complexion, and mild temper. For many years he worked with Messrs Sargood, So i, and Ewen, warehouse men, .but for some short time prior to his death was in the, employ of Archibald Clark and Sons, Sfaortland street. It; has been stated that he was inclined towards intemperance, but few persons can be found to assort that he was unable to take care of himself. That his death should be caused therefore in any way by excessive drinking it was difficult for many to believe, and great surnrDe was experienced by bis friends when the disclosures oil this head were made at the inquest. Mrs Miriam Hamilton, the wife of the deceased, who is also suspected to be implicated in this strange and melancholy case, is a woman 35 years of ago, somewhat tall, snare, and possessing rather hard f -attires. So far as we:learn, she lived with her husband on j good terms since their marriage up till a short time ago. Then the husband’s ! jealousy led to occasional words. They had | two or .three children, of whom Hamilton j was exceedingly fund, and they were one of i the greatest attractions of bis home. A more serious matter which is attracting ■ public attention is the strange coincidence that on the dav Hamilton die 1 a child also departed this life, and was buried with the father. ~ This becoming publicly known ! out si e caused much comment, .and now there are not wanting many Mho assert a suspicion that the child died an unnatural death. The police are c died upon to take this additional mystery in hand, and nil* ravel it to the satisfaction of alii The pur chase of strychnine by Priestly at One’hnnga from MrGillman, chemist, on the 13th November, is also alluded to with significanc ■. It has already been decided to exhume the bodies of Hugh Hamilton and his child, when a careful medical examination can be entered into, and several points at present enveloped in mystery may be effectually cleared up. Priestly has been removed to the gaol hospital. He is suffering from affection of the kidnevs. The Lyllett n Times writes “In this case the reporters of the Northern papers have evidently got the story fi.om the nolice, and dished - it id> in such a way as to lead to the conc’urion that Built is the only theory upon which the chain of circumstances can hold fogelher. In this they have taken a leaf fr tri the book of the groat artists of the American Press, who feist on details of accusations with reckless sensationalism. The copy is, he it said to its credit, feeble and poor. But its effect is in the same .direction as the original, viz., to lead to a strong presumption of guilt. The case is, in fact, being tried by the public before it pets - into the law courts.’* —The He.ra'd says : “The P.ess agent at Auckland is evidently not good at murders. He jumbles un iron bedsteads witli axes in an exasperating kind of fashion, and drags in church matters and mil.l flirtations at too ureat a.length. Ho also has a distressing habit of giving a complete biography of all the parties concerned, with some details as to the moral character, religious views, and .Phonal appearance, of each.. .And all this .'without making it, clear that anybody has been murdered, or; if so, who it - is, or who did it. If he has any really. fitst-class murdtjfs-on hand let- Idm trot them out ; but when he has got hold of a long string. oT'rfuSmckms-circumstances, we. should be pßliged. if. he would restrain ins exuberance until, something definite is known, and ■ then 'give us the result within the limits of a modest- paragraph. A column of minute particulars about a murder, which may after all • be only an iron- bedstead, is too much for the feelings of a tender-hearted community like.Jthis.”