THE MERCER TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1355, 16 January 1905, Page 2

THE MERCER TRAGEDY.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, Saturday. The charge against William Murton, of murdering Mary Dillon at Mercer was concluded at the Pukekohe Court to-day. The accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial, bail being refused.

On tha opening of the ease on Friday the Hon. J. A. Tole, who appeared for the prosecution, said Marion was charged with murdering Mrs Dillon, or in other words, causing her death by criminally assaulting her, she then being in a delicate state of health. Mrs Dillon resided in a three-roomed house at Mercer, there being a kitchen, bedroom and scullery. Surrounding her house were five acres of land, which she used to let for grazing purposes. Somewhere about Christmas a man named Ogilvio left his horse there, leaving his saddle and bridle in Mrs Dillon’s house. On the 3rd he again called and asked Mrs Dillon where the saddle and bridle' were. When Ogilvie asked for his saddle and bridle Mrs Dillon said, “There they arc,” and fell upon the floor trembling. He put her upon the sofa in the kitchen, and afterwards called a man named Mclvor, who had accompanied him as far as the paddock. A native who called subsequently was despatched with a note for assistance to Mrs Bobinson, a quarter cf a mile away. After that Mr Gillies, who was passing Dillon’s, was called in. The three I of them waited until the girl Bobinson, i about 14 years of ago, came, and when she arrived Mr Gillies asked her to stay with Mrs Dillon, and make her comfortable, as she was siok. They then left. As they wont out of the door they met the prisoner, who had accompanied Gillies from Mercer. The prisoner was about the place ;after that. After the three men left Mrs Dillon asked the girl to tidy up the house and light the fire for her. The girl did so. In addition to that, the girl got the deceased a rug and a pillow, and then went out, it being about half-past three then. Bolero B he left {ho house the accused visited the place. He came ta tha door and asked if Mrs. Dillon was'in, and ho then got tho girl to hold his horse while ho went in. Ho remained there for about five minutes. Tha girl then went in, hut Mrs Dillon divifl! <i*v>ay anything, and the girl shop went home again. At five o'clock she returrrifd and she was then startled while still approaching the house by hearing some Bhufiiing on the floor inside. She did not go inside, but waited. About 10 minutes after tho prisoner came out. As he did so, the girl asked if Mrs Dillon was in. His reply was that she was asleep, and that she and her sister, who was with her, had better go in without knocking. “With that he wont away and tho girl went in, and found Mrs Dillon still on tho sofa, but not in the same position. Counsel went on to, explain tho position in which deceased was found. He said that the rug IiBd? been released of its oruniglea, and- that all the deceased’s y<ere disarranged. Medical testimony would go to show that the cause of death was heart failure, tho result of fright or exertion. There would be ample evidence upon which His Worship, j even though the case was wrapped up in J myatery, could commit for trial.