THE WAIKAWA MURDER.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1435, 21 September 1878, Page 3

THE WAIKAWA MURDER.

[By Telegraph.] [i'EOM THIS CORRESPONDENT OP THE TRESS.] Dunedin, September 20, It seems the Welshes were only two months married. It is very little over two months ago that Welsh was in Dunedin looking out for a job as ploughman. He was speedily put into communication with the holder of a large station, and on the 16th of July an agreement was drawn up by which he engaged himself to John Anderson, of the Wyndham station, for a period of twelve months, at the wages of £55 per annum and rations for himself and wife, who, however, was not expected to do anything for her living. Arrived at the station, his promises as regards his working were never carried out. Most of his time was spent in bed or loafing about in a reckless manner round the house. His excuse for this was that he felt unwell, and never seemed better. A necessary dissatisfaction arose at conduct such as this, and after a fortnight’s stay a month’s notice to quit was received by him. During this short period he already gave signs of a melancholy restless disposition. Joined to this peculiarity, there existed groundless jealousy of his young wife, who showed a totally different disposition, being as active as he was lazy. This all tended to widen the breach, and eventually he tried the girl’s patience to that extent that she was overheard to say previous to their departure that she wished he would cither die soon or do something. Nevertheless she continued to give her husband every attention. Whilst very little of the month yet remaining to the couple at Wyndham station had elapsed, Mr Macrae came on the scene, enquiring fora ploughman with a wife competent to cook. Bather than stand in the way Anderson consented to forego his claim on Welsh for the period yet to expire, and accordingly the Welshes removed themselves to Waikawa. Ho however always seemed flush of money, and this perhaps tended to foster his lazy and listless habits. Arrived at Waikawa, ho pursued the same tactics, and, however well satisfied the employers wore with the wife’s services, the husband certainly did not make his mark. Accordingly notice to quit was also served there. Then, without previous warning, he deliberately murdered his wife in the room or closet adjoining their bedroom. There she was found at an early hour on Sunday forenoon, lying under the table, with her throat cut from ear to ear, and with the blood still trickling from the wound. She was quite dead, but evidently only recently. The mystery is how so terrible a struggle us it was clear had taken p|ace did not attract attention whilst it was in progress. The body of the woman and her limbs show severe bruises all over. Her bosom is found covered with largo quantities of her murderer’s whiskers. She must have struggled frightfully, and it was only the strength of madness -which enabled her husband to overcome her. The murderer then pushed the body under tho table, and covered the head by throwing her clothes over it. A carving knifo was found on tho table, but this showed no signs of blood. When tho discovery vraa made, all on the station were completely unnerved, and tho speediest method of discovering tho murderer was not taken. The country round was not immediately scoured, to see if lie was lurking in tho neighbourhood, and the bedroom adjoining, though discovered locked from tho inside, and with blood on tho handle of the door, was certainly looked into, but no one of those present had sufficient presence of mind to look under the bed. Welsh's account of himself was that ho came from Australia with Mr Ohesham, manager for Mr Main’s station iu the Upper

Tnieri district, and with him he remained three years and three months. This is all at present known of the matter, except that the wife seems to have been positive her husband had something on his mind. Mrs Welsh was about 20.