THE WAIKAWA MURDER.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1438, 25 September 1878, Page 2

THE WAIKAWA MURDER.

[By Telegraph.]

[FRO-M THE CORRESPONDENT 01’ THE PRESS.]

Dunedin, September 24. Nobody was in the house at the time of the murder on Sunday morning; except the husband and wife, Mr Mcßae was away, and the shepherd and another man on the premises were both away on special business at a distance. A? half-past twelve o’clock Mr T. Muir and his servant, having ridden across on a visit, were the first to discover the woman lying under the table of the room, with her clothes turned over her body and her throat cut, first in front of the windpipe and then from ear to ear. In searching the house on Tuesday Sergeant Boyd and Mr Muir discovered in the bedroom already spoken of the window open, and the slight impression of a bloody knuckle on it. This leads to the presumption that on the discovery being made the murderer was still in the house, and that on hearing the arrival of Mr Mcßae arid Mr Muir he made off in the direction of the bush. On Wednesday morning* Mr Muir, Mr McKenzie, the shepherd, and Inspector Fox started off with eight or nine dogs for the purpose of exploring the neighboring bush, which extends right to the sea. | After pursuing a circuitous route for two or three miles a track was struck, which the dogs pursued, and eventually one of the dogs gave tongue in a manner that drew all tho other dogs to the spot. On arriving at the place, the searchers discovered Welsh using all his endeavors to keep the dogs off him. Ho was clothed only in trousers and vest, and on being covered by Inspector Fox’s revolver, immediately said he was glad they had found him. He said he had been without a bit of anything since Sunday morning. He ate a good meal on his return to the house. His account of himself was that he had a quarrel with his wife on Sunday morning, and that subsequently on returning to the house he found the body of his wife lying with her throat cut.

Mcßae, in the course of his evidence, said— I noticed Welsh’s quietness, dullness, and melancholy manner, as if something was troubling him, but not when I engaged him. After a few days I spoke to him, when ho said he was weak and could not work. I I asked him what was the matter, and he said —What was the use of telling me ? I replied that it might be better if he did, and asked him if there was anything up between him and his wife. He replied that there was something going on between her and that ploughman at Mr Anderson’s. On enquiring if he had seen anything to cause him to suspect her, he said no, but that she had been freer with him than she ought to have been. I asked had he ever seen anything since his arrival at Waikawa to make him suspect her. He said no.

On Saturday prisoner was conveyed to Invercargill. During the inquest he preserved throughout the most stolid and cool demeanour, only waking up whilst Inspector Fox gave his evidence. Even when the lamp was held close to his face for the purpose of comparing the hair discovered near the body with, that of his beard, he never once blinked or changed colour. He converses quite freely on any subject but the murder.