SUPPOSED MURDER AT SOUTH DUNEDIN.

Evening Star, Issue 6726, 7 October 1885, Page 2

SUPPOSED MURDER AT SOUTH DUNEDIN.

The inquest on the death of Mrs Georgina Butler was resumed at the Railway Hotel, South Dunedin, at three o'clock this afternoon. Before further evidence was taken -the jury were directed by Mr Coroner Watt to examine Mrs Brown's house and a plan which had been prepared by Mr Nicholson. Mr D. M. Stuart said he appeared to watch proceedings on behalf of the relatives of the deceased. The Coroner said he could not recognise any professional man in the Court by allowing him to cross-examine. He would, however, receive any suggestions from him as to questions to put to the witnesses. T. M. Hocken, recalled, deposed t I have examined the stains on the hanister-brush microscopically. Though by the naked eye they appeared to be blood, the microscope gave no confirmation, for the reason that, if the brush had been soaked in water, the corpuscles of the blood would be no longer recognisable. On examining the brush! found the bunches of hair appeared well-fastened, with the exception of one or two near the end. Some of the bristles belonging to the brush are evidently deficient. The bristles found in the palm of the deceased's hand and on the sheet and pillow are similar to those in the brush. The dress-improver has marks of blood on it. The human hair found in the hands of the deceased corresponds with that in the deceased's head. In giving oiy evidence previously I expressed the opinion that the brush could hardly have produced the wound on the zygomatic process. • On thinking the matter over afterwards it struck me that the deceased may have held up her hand to shield her head, and that her ring came in contact with the zygomatic process. The ring is very much compressed, and it certainly could have produced the wound which I found. The Coroner here remarked that the jury could have no doubt that the woman Was murdered. It was therefore necessary only to go into such details as would be likely to bring the murder home to the perpetrator. Dr de Zouche corrol orated Mr Hocken's testimony -as to the post mortem appearances the deceased's body presented at the time of examination. The cause of death was the fracture of the skull, which could have been produced by the banister-brush. The inquest had not concluded when we went to press. According to the ' Oamaru Mail,' Mrs Brown was for some time a resident in Oamaru, and those who knew her there say sUe is of *weak. intellect, ancL at times . especially so.