A Shocking Murder.

Hastings Standard, Issue 106, 28 August 1896, Page 2

A Shocking Murder.

A STOREKEEPER AND HIS WIFE BUTCHERED. [By Telegraph.] [Special to Standard.] Wkllington, This Day. Mr and Mrs Jones, who kept a shop at Petone, have been found murdered this morning. The place was robbed, and it is supposed that the thief is the culprit. Jones was a man about 70, and his wife about five years younger. The murdered man was formerly manager for Plaisted, ironmonger, at Hokitika and Christchurch, and kept a grocery store in Jackson-street. They liyed on the premises, and had no family with them. Between 9 and 10 o'clock last night, Mrs Atkinson went for a tin of cocoa, but though the light was burning she could make no one hear. About 8 this morning Mrs Hounslow went in and the lamp was still burning. She saw a man lying dead on the floor and run out screaming " Murder." Godfrey, one of the Railway Works Company's employees, ran up and found both Jones and his wife brutally murdered. The man had four or five stabs in his back, and his wife's throat was cut. Both were fully dressed and were not in the bedroom, whence it is inferred that the deed was done last night. Jones was covered with blood and also had a cut on his hand from some sharp instrument. No weapon was found. A number of neighbors live all round, but no one appears to have heard anything. At present robbery is supposed to be the motive, and it is known that some time ago Jones was in possession of a considerable sum of money. Jones was found on the kitchen floor and his wife* in the passage by the front door, the latter lying in a pool of blood, which at first gave rise to a report that her throat was cut, but a cursory examination fails to show any wound, and it is thought she might have burst a bloodvessel through the shock or in an effort of trying to escape. Jones had three stabs in the back. Nothing was taken from the house so far as is known. The police were early on the scene. The only clue so far is heavy foot- I marks outside the house.