LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1078, 15 March 1880, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[UNITED i?RESS ASSOCIATION.]

HORRIBLE MURDERS IN DTJNEDJtN.

Dunedin, March 14. One of the most horrible tragedies which ever occurred here happened this morning in Cumberland street, when James Murray Dewar, alias Grant, a buttiher in the employ of Dora well, of George street) was found dead, his wife injured almost beyond hope 6£ recovery, his child suffocated, and the bedroom on fire, a lighted candle having been placed under the b6d. 'the deceased man was aged about 30 years, and had been in the Colony for nearly 22 years. His proper ttame was Dewar, but his mother (who resides in a house just behind his) having remarried a carpenter named Grant* he adopted his stepfather's name. Between five and six o'clock this morning the milkman who supplies the family, on making his customary visit td the house* was startled by seeing smoke issuing from one of the front windows. He knocked loudly at the front doorj and received no reply. He raised an alarm which brought some neighbours to the scene, and subsequently a member of the fire Brigade, and Sergeant Deane and a Constable. On the house being entered there was discovered lying on the floor Mrs Grant in her night-dress, with, blood issuing from her head, and quite unconscious. The bedroom was next visited, and was full of smoke. There on the bed lay Mr Grant with a severe blow on his head, evidently inflicted by an axe which lay at hand, and which bore marks of blood on it. The infant was also in bed, apparently suffocated, the lower part of the mattress having been set fire to by the lighted candle, which was found alongside of it. Mrs Grant was then lifted from the floor, and carried iato the sitting room, and Dr Niven, who was sent for, on seeing her condition, ordered her removal to the Hospital. The tragedy must have been committed very early this morning. By whom it has been done, whether the act of a stranger, or by either of the Grants, is a question the police are now endeavoring- to solve. As far as we can learu, nothing has been missed from the house, nor does anything in the other room appear .to have been disturbed.' The only suspicious circumstance is, the door of the house was found open. The wounds on Grant's head, and those on his wife appear unprofessionally to negative the theory of having been self inflicted, and there is the additional circumstance, vouched for by many people who knew the couple intimately, that they lived very happy lives. The strangest part of the whole affair is that none of the neighbors, some of whom lived about 12 feet from Grant's house, never heard the slightest noise, and were awoke by the alarm of fire, which, from another source, we learn., was raised by a fireman who lives close by. The woman, who still lies unconscious at the Hospital, has three wounds on causing a compound depressed of the skull. One of the wounds is on the top of the head, the second behind the right ear, and the third on the temple. The affair kas caused the greatest excitement.