The Murder at Dunedin.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 12, 7 July 1883, Page 3

The Murder at Dunedin.

♦_ LATER PARTICULARS. (PHB UNITED FEESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, June 30. Further particulars concerning the murder and suicide show that Stephenson had been threatenining his wife with violence for some time, saying that one or both of them would die that night. He had followed her home, and overtaking her on the footpath he grasped her by the breast. He then fired off a dynamite cartridge, holding it in his right hand, and pointing it at her head. She screamed out when he caught hold of her. Tiie effect of the explosion was to blow their heads almost entirely away. He had evidently premeditated murder, and it is presumed his own death also. In his nocket was found a cartridge similar to the one it is conjectured he did the deed with. On him also was found a letter drawn out to the Minister of Justice, asking that (he separation order obtained by his wife should be set aside. H> had been drinking from time to time for the last two or three years, and recently has been several times before the Police Court for drunkenness. During yesterday he had attempted to get his children away from his wife's control, having taken one of them away from school, but the little one ran away from him. Latest. A portion of the deceaseds' brains and scalp were found twenty yarls away from where the bodies were discovered and this morning one of the male deceased's fingers were picked up in Maitland street. It is said that Stophenson procured dynamito from the mine at Uindon. The explosion was plainly heard at the north end of the city. Stevenson's grievance principally was that he was denied access to his children and that the protection order was granted in his absence; There is little doubt brooding over these things drove him to desperation.