DEATH OF A PRISONER IN MOUNT EDEN GAOL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2712, 18 December 1882, Page 2

DEATH OF A PRISONER IN MOUNT EDEN GAOL.

[press association telegram.]

AUCKLAND, December 16. Hooton, the chemist, remanded on chargo of attempting to murder Miss Eaynor at Devonport, was found dead in his cell in Mount Eden gaol at three o’clock this morning. An inquest was held, and tha jury returned a verdict that the deceased “ Died from serous sanguineous apoplexy." Up till some three or four months ago Thomas Hooton, with his wife, resided at Coromandel, and while there made the acquaintance of the family of the Eaynors. Mr and Mrs Hooton, owing to the former’s intemperate habits, lived very unhappily together, and by his cruel treatment Mrs Hooton was frequently driven to seek refuge under the friendly roof of the Eaynors, who, on more than one occasion, protected her from her husband’s violence. Hooton does not seem to have appreciated the interference of the Eaynors, and, indeed, conceived a violent dislike for them, which found expression in threats and inuendoes when he was worse for liquor. About three months ago Hooton came to reside at Devonport, where the Eaynors had also taken up their residence, and indeed both families occupied apartments in the same house. Hooton commenced business on Queen street wharf as chemist and druggist, and though for a short time he was steady he soon relapsed into his old intemperate habits, and his unfortunate wife led a life of even greater unhappiness than before. One day last week, stung to desperation by Ms cruelty, she rushed into the part of the house occupied by Eaynors and claimed their protection. This so incensed Hooton that he threatened to murder not only his wife but Eaynor’s also. The day after Mrs Hooton’s flight her husband borrowed .£5 from a friend, ostensibly for the purpose of purchasing a revolver and ammunition for the protection of the house from burglars, but, as the sequel proved, really with the intention of carrying out his murderous threats. Hooton’s next step was to load the weapon, a six chambered revolver, and proceed to the North Shore. On Monday evening last the Misses Eaynor happened to be on the wharf as the ferry steamer come alongside. They recognised Hooton, and observing he was armed came to the conclusion he was about to carry out his threat. They hastened home, and gave the alarm. Presently a knock came to the door, and Miss Eaynor, arming herself with a stick, proceeded to answer the summons. She did not think it was Hooton, conaequeatly her terror was great when on opening the door she found herself looking down the tube of the revolver presented at her by the semiinebriated chemist. Fortunately Miss Eaynor, with admirable presence of mind, promptly struck the revolver upward, the blow apparently at the same time causing Hooton’s hand to relax its pressure on the trigger. The weapon was fully loaded, capped, and. cocked. Just as Miss Eaynor had performed this act of bravery her younger sister and her father appeared on the scene, and without much ado wrested the revolver from his grasp and handed him over to the police authorities. Hooton has been employed in the establishment of Messrs Potter and Co., merchants, Durham street. Since his arrest he wrote a letter to his brother, fully expressing his determination to “ shoot Eaynor.” Mrs Hooton states she lias visited her husband in gaol yesterday, and that lie then made use of threats that he would'murder Eaynor. He informed her that he had arranged with. John, his brother, to took after the children.. Hooton has been in the colony three years, arriving at Wellington, from England, in be ship Merivale, in 1379.