MURDER IN LYTTELTON.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 192, 20 January 1875, Page 2

MURDER IN LYTTELTON.

ADJOURNED INQUEST. The adjourned inquest was held yesterday at noon at the Mitre. The jury were all present, and answered to their names. The prisoner stated that his counsel, Mr T. I. Joynt, was unavoidably absent. Dr Powell, duly sworn, said—l am a legally qualified medical practitioner. I received from Sergean t- Major O’Grady a coat and trousers and comforter, I examined them, and the result was that I found there were stains of blood on the comforter and the wrists of the coat, both outside and in, especially inside. The lining of the inside of the left sleeve was stained with blood. 1 reserved a portion of the lining for more exact examination. It was freely stained with blood, I scraped the stains on the right sleeve and the comforter, and a small stain from the trousers for more complete examination, and with the exception of the latter I completely identified them as blood. I received a handkerchief from Constable Wallace, I examined it. It is stained with blood. There are two large stains on it (handkerchief produced). I examined knife produced; it appeared to be used for cutting tobacco, I did not notice any blood on it.

By Foreman —I cannot tell whether it is human blood or not. I only know it is the blood of a mammal.

James Allen sworn, said—l was mate of the Canterbury schooner till 11th of this month (January). I saw accused in company with a girl named Isabella Thompson on the 9th (Saturday). He had the same coat on then that he has now, and a similar waistcoat. I saw him at 4 p.m. There was no blood that I saw on his clothes then. I afterwards saw him about ten minutes past 5 same day with a girl named Isabella Thompson (the deceased I saw in the deadhouse). I next saw him about four minutes to 6on the Railway platform, I did not particularly notice his clothes then. He had similar clothes on. At 5 o’clock he was with the little girl. I noticed them particularly. She was a peculiar looking little girl. She stopped and looked me full in the face. I know the knife produced or a similar knife. I saw the prisoner Mercer with it some time ago, or with one like it. There, were no sheep killed on board the Canterbury on the 9th, or previous’y. By the Foreman—l will not swear positively to the knife, as knives of the same description are so common (Pampas). By Mr Carroll—We killed no sheep on board during the trip or poultry either ; we got all our meat dressed. By Mr Buist—l joined the Canterbury on November 25th.

John Darcy, duly sworn, said—l was cook on board the brigantine Cleopatra. I remember Saturday, Jan. 9th, I was in company with the accused, and went with him and a man named Brown into Parsons’ public house. Brown has since gone up country. I had a pint of beer ; the accused had a bottle of lemonade. Prisoner paid for all the drinks. It was about five p.m. in the afternoon. I left first to get meat from the butcher. I do not know when accused left. I did not see him when I came back from the butcher’s. I nest saw him on Sunday between eleven and twelve o’clock. I believe he was then wearing the same clothes he has on now. On- Saturday and Sunday, when he came on board, he was wearing the same clothes. 1 After he came on board he emptied out the contents of his bag. He changed his clothes after he arrived on board. I saw several articles of clothing floating close to the vessel. shortly after he came on board, but did not see him throw them overboard. I saw a knife similar to the one produced lying amonvst the accused’s things. On the Monday I found it in the coal tub. He took my place that morning as cook* I gave the knife to Sergeant Maguire, Detective Feast was present at the time.

By Capt Kiddy—l believe the clothes must have been thrown from the vessel.

By Mr Yule—lt was before he changed his things I saw the clothes. By Mr Ayers—l think the clothes I saw floating were flannel shirts, or something similar.

Dr Rouse, duly sworn, said—l am a medical practitioner. I stated in my last examination that I observed scratches on the prisoner’s nose and hand. The scratches were such as might well have been made by the finger nails. They were not made by anything pointed. On the 11th I went with Sergeant Major O’Grady to the Morgue, and then extracted a number of prickles from the legs and arms of deceased, about the knees, and there were marks of many more on the arms, hands, and legs. 1 have compared them and those taken from the body of accused with gorse prickles, and they are identical. I examined them under the microscope, I have since received prickles from Sergeant-Major O’Grady, taken from the clothes of accused, and these also are gorse prickles. I compared those prickles with gorse prickles taken from the spot where the girl was found, and they are exactly similar. Matthew Percy sworn, said—l was lately employed in the schooner Canterbury. I remember Saturday, January 9th. About three p.m. on that day I met the accused in Oxford street. I did not see him after that. I went up to him and asked accused if he was going to Christchurch, and he said he would have nothing to do with me. He then said, I want to go with some one else. * * * * ' * The accused had the same coat and cap on then that I see on him now, but I cannot swear to the trousers. I know the knife produced, or one of the same sort, as I was acting as his substitute as cook, and he came and claimed it. John Skeet, sworn, said—l am a seaman living in Oxford street. I remember Jan. 9 th. 1 was leaning on the rails at Mr

Bunker’s stables that day. I know the parsonage. I was looking in that direction that day about ten minutes to 6 p.m. The station doors had opened and closed again. 1 saw a man walking down from the corner of the parsonage garden, about three yards from where the body was found. He was shaking his coat. I watched him because I thought he was tipsy. He passed within four or five yards from me. He was then going towards the railway station. I saw him pass Mr Kelley’s. I know accused was the man, and he had on the same clothes aud cap to the best of my belief. He was walking as if he were tipsy, but in a hurry, all in a shake, I thought he had some blood on the right side of his cheek when he passed me. I saw none on his nose.

By Foreman—Mr Bunker’s rails are within easy view of the parsonage garden. He was all in a tremble.

Robert Russell, duly sworn, said—l am a carpenter in Christchurch. I remember the 9th. I was in a railway carriage going from Lyttelton to Christchurch by the 6 p.m. train that day. Accused was in the same carriage. Accused had two bloody scratches, one on the nose aud another below the right eye. I noticed his hands ; they were covered with blood. The blood looked fresh. Accused said, “ Us Government men ought to go into the horse box to make room for the public and I said I thought he ought to wash his hands before he spoke. He said he had been killing a sheep. I did not notice his clothes.

Miss Annie Rouse sworn, said—l live with my father at the corner of Ripon and Oxford streets, Lyttelton. I recognise accused. I first saw him on Saturday afternoon, the 9th, between 5.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. It was nearer 6. I was inside, the house sitting at the window. It is a large bow window. I saw him come from Ripon street across the rails of the tramway'into Oxford street. He went straight down Oxford street towards the Railway. He had on then the same clothes and cap he has on now. He was walking hurriedly, I know Bunker’s stables and the slip rails leading into them. They are near my father’s house. There are only two or three cottages between.

By Foreman—There was nothing to impede my sight. Mrs Toomey, sworn, said—l am a widow living in Lyttelton, I remember Januaiy 9th, About a quarter before 6 p.ra, I saw a man in dark grey clothes, near the corner of Mr Pember’s garden fence, he was like accused, same build, height, and clothes. I do not know where the body of Isabella Thompson was found. I saw the man at the corner nearest Oxford street, he seemed to be under the influence of liquor. I was in my own back garden in Winchester street when I saw the man, and cannot recognise the features.

John Hall, sworn, said—l am a carpenter in Christchurch. I remember Saturday, January 9th, I was in the 6 p.m. train going to Christchurch from Lyttelton. Robert Russell and I were in the same compartment. The accused was in the carriage with us, he said to Russell, when he came in, “ It is time for some of you Government fellows to clear out and give the public room.” Russell said, “ Why don’t you wash your hands before you speak," and accused replied, "I have just been killing a sheep, and that is the reason my hands are bloouy.” There was a lot of blood on his left hand, I did not notice the right hand as much. I noticed either blood or a scratch on his right cheek.

Sergeant-Major O’Grady sworn, said—l am Sergeant-Major of Police in Lyttelton. I remember Saturday, January 9th. About 6.30 p.m. the body of Isabella Thompson was brought to the police station, I observed she was then wearing the clothes 1 now produce; there was gorse in them, and blood on them, and they are also torn. I removed the body to the Morgue and there took possession of the clothes that are now produced. On the morning of the 11th, accompanied by Detective Feast, I went on board the Cleopatra schooner in Lyttelton harbor. When getting alongside I observed accused come from the direction of the cabin to the fore rigging, near where the ladder was on the port side. When I got on board I observed the prisoner change color very much when he recognised me. I asked his name, and he said it was Mercer. Detective Feast then came on board from the boat. I asked accused what portion of the ship he lived in. I was • in plain clothes. He said he lived in the cabin. Detective Feast and myself asked him into the cabin, and I said, “ Where are your clothes ? ” He was then in his shirt sleeves. Detective Feast said, “theclothes you wore on Saturday,” He then went into a spare room on the port side of the cabin, and took out a very long bag full of clothes. I took the bag from his hands, and commenced taking out the contents. Some short distance down the bag I found the trousers now on the accused, I threw them on the table, putting the other articles taken from the bag on one side, I observed stains on the trousers. Detective Feast then commenced examining them. Nearly at the bottom of the bag I found the coat now on the accused, the scarf and handkerchief produced, and the cap he has on now. I subsequently took possession of the boots and sock s which accused had on (produced), I observed gorse prickles in the socks, and some in the boots. There was blood on the scarf, blood on the coat, especially on the inside cuff of the left sleeve. I heard accused tell Detective Feast he had no knife. The detective asked him how he cut his tobacco, and he said with the galley knife. The detective said, “ You are not always in the galley.” He then said, “ When not there I break it up with my fingers.” He said that he received the scratch on his nose some time before on board the schooner. He also said the blood on his clothes was caused by killing sheep in Wellington. I told him to get his things ready as he had to come ashore. I took him to my office at the police station, Lyttelton, and got him to take off his clothes. When his trousers were off I remarked to Feast the great quantity of gorse prickles showing on his knees and legs. Accused said they were not prickles, and it would take me all my time to get any out of him. I then sent for Dr Rouse, and was present and assisted in extracting several gorse prickles from the thighs, knees, hands, and fingers of accused. Dr Rouse took charge of the prickles extracted. I gave Dr Rouse some gorse prickles taken from the clothes of the accused. I also assisted him in taking gorse prickles from the body of the deceased Isabella Thompson. I produce a portion of the hair I cut from deceased ; it is literally covered with gorse. The remainder is like it, I observed many gorse prickles on the deceased’s body, which were not extracted. I produce tobacco and pipe found by the detective on the prisoner. The tobacco looks as if it had been recently cut with a knife. I ye*-%day

measured with a chain, in company with Feast, the distance from the Albion Hotel to Ripon street. It is seventeen chains along Ripon street. From Canterbury street to the scene of the murder is five chains. From the scene of the murder to a spot shown by John Skeet is five chains. From the scene of the murder to Miss Rouse’s house is four chains. The distance from where I saw the accused on board the Cleopatra, to the coal tub where the knife was found, is six feet seven inches. The coroner said this was all the evidence the Crown had to bring forward. At the request of Mr Woledge, the foreman, the evidence of Captain Russell, James Allan, and John Blair Thompson, the father of the deceased, was read again by the coroner. The court was then cleared.

The jury, after a retirement of six minutes, returned a verdict of “Wilful Murder” against Thomas Mercer. ; The prisoner was conducted back to his cell, three warders being in attendance to guard him as well as the police. There was no demonstration however.