A WIFE KICKED TO DEATH BY HER HUSBAND.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1272, 16 July 1886, Page 3

A WIFE KICKED TO DEATH BY HER HUSBAND.

A shocking case of wife murder was committed in North Richmond about eleven o’clock on the night of Friday, June 25, the perpetrator of which was a middle-aged laboring man named Thomas Tayloi, who, together with his wife and another laboring man named Dennis Hogan, occupied a small four-roomed wooden cottage in a narrow thoroughfare, known as Kenny street The cottage stands in close proximity to Church street and opposite the north end of the market reserve, at the rear of the Town Hall. For upwards of three months the two men nave been engaged working for a Mr Thomas Baxter, contractor in HawthornXand during the whole of that periocrHogan lived at the residence of Taylor as a hoarder. They generally left home early in the morning and returned at six o’clock in the evening for dinner. When they reached home on Frida} evening the house was in total darkness, and there was no appearance of any dinner, the fire having burned completely out, Taylor remonstrated with his wife, who showed signs of intoxication, and after a short exchange of words between them he went to a neighboring public-house, and brought home sixpennyworth of beer, and he and Hogan partook of a cold meal together. They remained in the house until about half-past nine, and then paid a visit to a hotel in Simpson’s roan where they stayed till after eleven. On their return to the house Taylor struck a match as ha entered the''-door, and proceeded to look for a handle. As he was unablo to find one, Hogan said good night and went to bed in the dark. The only noise that ho subsequently heard in the house was Taylor asking his wife to get him a candle, and he could not tell what her answer was she was then l}ing in a corner of the room apparently intoxicated. Shortly afterwards he (Hogan) fell a Jeep, and dip not wake until tour o’clock the following morning. At that hour Taylor came rushing into hi si room like a madman, with the news that his wife was dead. Hogan struck a match and went into the kitchen where he observed the tohn of Mrs Taylor lying stiff and cold upon the floor. Hogan procured a caud e from one of the neighbours, and Taylor, as he gased upon the corpse, remarked that he had killed her and would go and give himself up to the police. Having secured the doors, Hogan accompanied him to tho station he grew very dejected on the way, and on arriving he made an open confession of what had happened. Senior- Constable Couohe was in charge at the office and the statement of Taylor was to tho effect that when his wife refused to get him a candle he knocked her down with a blow and afterwards kicked her on the floor, where he left her lying. Without further regarding her he went to bad, and slept until nearly four o’clock, (finding himself alone in the bedroom a feeling of alarm crept over him, whereupon he struck a match and looked through tho house. On going info the kitchen ho discovered that she was dead. Taylor was then placed in the lockup on the charge of wilfully and maliciously modeling his wife. She must have beeir struck to the ground unconscious, as neither Hogan nor any of the neighbours heard the slightest murmur. The floor where tho body lay was capered with blood, | which flowed from the head and neck in three or four diffident streams. Some of her clothing was also satn rated in blood, all the visible portions of the body were terribly bruised and g tshed, and at tho bottom of the neck there is a large black wound as if inflicted by a kick The face wasstreaked with lines of blood that trickled down fr ira the head and forehead. The deceased was of slight stature, about thirty five years of age, and apparently - weak in bod_y. She was known to two i or throe members of the police foice as i a woman addicted to drink. The busbaud also drank but not to excess. So , far as is known they lived happily to*

gether. Sometimes when they would have a little drink a short quarrel en« sued, but when sober they werejgreatly attached to each other.

Dr Lalor inspected the body, and in the afternoon of Saturday he and Pros fessor Allan held a. Post Mortem ex* amination, which occupied close upon three hours. The whole lenght of the light side of the body was one mass of black bruises and outs. There were several abrasions on the head, and the appearance of a heavy blow on the right temple. Every rib on the right side, except the upper and lower ones, was broken, two or three of them penetrating into the lungs and causing considerable hemorrhage. The lower portions of the body were likewise covered with cuts and bruises. What may be termed the higher neck bone was broken in two, the result apparently, of a violent kick. The post mortem, however, did not disclose acy precise indication that deceased was intoxicated when she received the fatal injuries. Death was caused, in all probability,, by the injury toThe lungs, which were much damaged. .Taylor was brought before tbe local magistrates on Saturday, aud formally remanded. His manner was reserved and he wore a troubled anxious ex« pression. His age is forty-five years. They married about six years ago, but had no children.

The coroner’s jury returned a vcr diet of murder against Taylor. During the progress of the inquiry an affecting scene occurred. The coroner and the jury had left the room for lunch, Taylor remaining in it in custody. The brother of the murdered woman, Hurley by name, who was in a highly excited state, went up to Taylor and said: “ Poor Tommy, your brother-in-law forgives you before a just God.” He then bent down and kissed Taylor, and both men shed teais.