THE PAIN MURDER CASE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 August 1901, Page 3

THE PAIN MURDER CASE.

Douglas before the Court.

(PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Wellington, August 9. Robert Douglas was charged at the Magistrate’s Court with the murder of Mrs Pain, of Masterton, on his own confession.

Bell prosecuted and Wilford defended. Bell said the first statement made by the prisoner to the Lyttelton gaoler was in July, 1899. Douglas then said he had a quarrel with Mrs Pain, because he was asked to work in wet weather, and said she tried to put him out of the house but failed. When he was fishing in the creek near the house she came along and in crossing the creek fell face downwards. He at once went to her aid, but could not pull her out. Half an hour later he went home, and told the servant girl that Mrs Pain was drowned in the creek. The girl took no notice, but went on with her work. He also went about his work, leaving the woman in the creek all night. Her husband returned in tho morning. Douglas then told him of tho death, but the husband refused to go with Douglas when the latter offered to show where she fell in. She was found on Monday. Bell said this portion of tho evidence was obviously nonsense. The prisoner made a second statement to the gaoler, in which he said that in a quarrel with Mrs Pain she struck him on the head with a block of wood. In the afternoon she and he were going up the creek eeling. On the way up another quarrel took place She called him a bad name. He then knocked her down with a stick and she fell down the hill towards the creek. He dragged and pushed her into the creek and held her head under water till she ceased to struggle. He returned to Pains and went on with his work as if nothing had happened and stayed until the body was found and an inquest held. He assisted in looking for Mrs Pain, going anywhere and everywhere but where she lay. The day after the murder he told Edward Harris of his deed and how he did it. Bell said Harris would be called to prove that Douglas had never mentioned the matter to him.

At the inquest the prisoner had said he and Mrs Pain went fishing, and at her suggestion he afterwards walked up the hill to the top of the spur. He then went further on to get the cows. The last he saw r.f her was going towards Ashley’s fence. He looked round a second time and could not see her. When walking up the hill she appeared strange and was muttering. He went home and thought it strange that she did not return.

Bell, in conclusion, said it would he much more consistent with the facts that the woman was murdered, than that she had a fit and rolled down the hill into the place where she was found.