The Amberley Murder.

Hastings Standard, Issue 310, 30 April 1897, Page 2

The Amberley Murder.

A TERRIBLE CRIME. EVIDENCE OF OUTRAGE. VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER (Per Press Association.) Christcih hch, April 29. The spot where the body was found is hardly more than half a mile from the township, and beside one of the main roads leading to Rangiora. Beside the road, 011 Mr Douglas's property, there is a long plantation of pine trees devoid of undergrowth* Nex>. to the road there is an open wire fence, and about half a chain inside this a gorse fence which had been recently trimmed. Between the pine there is a footpath, and it is likely that the girl was walking along this when attacked. The girl was tall and delicate and it is supposed that when she was attacked by the murderer, whose object was evidently outrage, she fainted, and was completely at his mercy. This supposition was borne out by the fact that there was no blood on her hands. When the body was found the clothes were disarranged, and the upper part was covered with gorso which had been trimmed from the fence. A young man named Win. Dwan, who was working 800 yards from the spot at the time the crime was supposed to have been committed, heard no sound. This morning Inspector Broham Detectives Benjamiu, Maddern and Johnston, made a thorough search in the hope of finding evidence, but were not able to discover anything of importance. Constable. Roche, hearing that a man whom he had met in the afternoon near Glasnevin, when on his way to Waikari, had been seen near the scene of the crime at the time it was supposed to have been committed, started for Waikari immediately after the body had been taken to the Railway Hotel. He reached the township about half-past 9, and found the man he was in search of in the Star and Garter Hotel, where he had obtained a shakedown for the night. He at once arrested him. The man remarked that he had made a mistake. The man (Hugh Eraser) was dressed in a dark coat and vest, blue serge trousers, and soft felt hat. All his garments were the worse for wear. He is smoothfaced and has an enlargement of the throat which is very prominent. This morning he was si bj ?cted to a thorough examination by D'. Eitzhenry for any traces of a struggle upon the body. It is known that he called at Mr R. Parson's place, near the plantation, and obtained some sugar just before II o'clock, and he was seen in the plantation a little later. The girl would be at this spot at the same hour. These facts are all that are known at present to connect the man with the crime. In his pocket was found a white handled knife with which the crime might have been committed. The blade and the handle showed clean under the microscope, but inside of the handle there was a clot of something very much like blood. At noon to-day Dr. Eitzhanry made an examination of the body of the victim, and the injuries showed that the murder had been fiendish and determined. Eight wounds were found four being in the throat. There was a deep puncutured wound on the right side of the month and a contused wound on the left side. There were several incisions on the left and right ear, and there was a stab three •quarters of a inch in width over the region of the heart. The front of the girl's dress must have been open when this stab was made, as the cut was only through tho corsets and underlinen. There was clear evidence that the victim had been outraged. The inquest has been fixed for 10 o'clock to-morrow, and Eraser has been remanded till Saturday. Later. The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Hugh Eraser, <>hn* William Sheehan. Rkkftox, This day. So far as can be ascertained there is no assurance that Ei.i-.r. iht man arrested at Amberley for the murder of Miss Lawcoek, was a resident here, though several are almost tvrlaiu that a man answering his d« nptimi uas in the district about a year ago. If he is a native of Keefton, the name given is almost certainly fictitious. The police are inquiring.