THE CASTERTON DOUBLE MURDER.

Kumara Times, Issue 3144, 1 December 1886, Page 3

THE CASTERTON DOUBLE MURDER.

A FORGOTTEN TRAGEDY,

The announcements that appear from time to time in the Victorian journals that the Curator of Intestate Estates will administer the estates of certain deceased persons, attract but little attention from the general public, and therefore few of the many readers of the papers who one day read the bold announcement that the Curator had obtained the ordinary rule wiih regard to the Estate of Robert Hunt, late of Casterton, who died in October, 1858, probably considered the paragraph, beyond, perhaps, wondering why such a long delay had elapsed. Yet to dwellers in the extieme west of Victoria, this little notice recalled the memory of one of the darkest, and for a time one of the most mysterious crimes that ever darkened that beautiful bright country. Visitors to that fertile district will remember the township of Casterton, which is situated on the main Adelaide road at the crossing of the Gionelg River, just where the magnificent Muntham country ends, giving place on the west side to the dreary heath swamps and white sand which stretch for leagues across the South Australian border. In front of the township arises a high hill known as Mount Muntham, and east of this lies a series of hills that for peaceful beauty and fertility are probably unequalled in Victoria. On one of these fertile slopes about a mile and a half from the township, there dwelt in 1858 a middle-aged man, Robert Hunt, and his wife. By careful industry the pair managed to acquire the freehold of 47 acres of land, a plot, that though not large in area, was sufficient even in those flush times to comfortably support the couple. The Hunts were not great favourites in the township, being somewhat taciturn and unsocial, hut they had a friend, William Waine, who often visited them and stayed for long periods, having, it was said, been a fellow convict with Hunt on “ the ether side,” as Tasmania was euphemistically called. About September, 1858, it was known that Hunt thought of selling his little farm, and the pair intended to go Home. One night early in October a big fire was noticed at Waine’s place, but little attention was paid to the matter at the time, although the circumstance was afterwards recalled. A day or two passed by, and it was remarked that the Hunts were not to be seen, while Waine was working on the place, and using Hunt’s horses. In answer to questions, Waine said that on the 6th October, he had purchased Hunt’s property for cash, and that Hunt and his wife left next day. The story awakened suspicion, and a number of suspicious little incidents, including the big fire were recalled, but nothing definite could be obtained. The ash heap was searched, and a quantity of calcined bones were discovered, but the medical men could give no opinion as to whether or not the ashes submitted to them had been those of a human being or not. Time went by, Waine, who had always been a surly man, being more morose than eveI’, 1 ’, although (lie townspeople, with a morbid curiosity ; endeavoured continually to draw him into conversation. He bad previously been in the habit of staying in the township for a day or two occasionally on r. aptee, but he now carried liquor up to his hut, and went in for long carouses. Cutious watchers, who stole up from the township, told wild tales of weird shiieks, and lenibly significant pantomimic gestures they had.seen and heard whilst, watching Waine in his solitary origies ; but nothing could be done, although everyone was certain that the missing man and his wife |utd been murdered by Waine. A

smart detective (Detective Brown, some years ago at Knmnra) was sen' up from Melbourne, wlio did not disclose to anyone his personality, but, drum on back, quietly slouched into town, and after loafing about a few days, found employment as groom at the Glenelg Inn, the nearest point of the township to Waine’s house. Several months went by, and groom Smith was of course entertained with all kinds of stories about Waine, who singularly enough seemed to conceive a slight fancy for the stranger, who was always ready to shout for the man upon whom everybody looked as a murderer. One day the pair got on a drunk together, and the pseudogroom thought the time had . come to act. Making an excuse to his drunken companion he sought the local trooper, and producing his credentials, instructed the astonished policeman to arrest Waine and himself (the detective) on a charge of drunkenness. This was done, and the couple woke in the morning to find themselves in the same cell. The day pissed, both being in apparent tribulation, and the second day came, when the trooper announced that no magistrate would be in the township for at least one week. This seemed to trouble Waine very much, and during the next day or two he repeatedly seemed on the point of making overtures to his companion. The trooper in Waine’s presence told Smith that he would let him out on bail, but that Waine would have to remain in, as be intended to charge him with Hunt’s mnrder. This seemed to completely break up Waine, who at last offered a large sum (£150) to Smith if he won'd go to a certain hole in the river, just above the hotel, where for eighteen months Waine had daily watered his or rather Hunt’s horses, and bury a bag which he would find under a log in the river. After getting the information, Smith quickly obtained hail, and going to the spot indicated, a bag containing pieces of a human body, including the upper part of a leg, was found. The indignation of the townspeople was vety great, and it was only with difficulty that they wore prevented from tearing the lock-up to pieces, and lynching Waine. He was committed for trial at Poitland, found guilty on circumstantial evidence, but nearly escaped through a difference of opinion between doctors. He had been charged wiih the murder of the woman, the local medico, Dr. Bradford, now deceased, having given it as his opinion that the thigh bone was that of a female. The Melbourne authorities insisted the bone belonged to a man, and the matter was only settled hy reference to the late Professor Owen, who upheld the opinion of Dr. Bradford, and Waine wa* hanged. Before his execution he confessed, and described the whole ghastly details of his awful crime. After (raying Hunt and his wife for their property, the three sat down to an evening carouse, and Waine, carrying out a preconcerted scheme, killed them with an axe. Carrying the bodies out--side, he cut them in pieces, and, building a great fire, spent the remainder of the night in burning the mangled remains. Morning approached before his fearful task was finished, and placing what was left unbnrnt of Mrs Hunt in a bag, he took it inside the hut. He afterwards never had the nerve enough to light another fire, especially when he found that suspicion against him had been aroused j but one night buried the gruesome parcel under the log in the river where he daily took his horses to water for twelve months.

No relatives of the pair have ever been found, and for many a year the 'and has been in tlie occupation of Mr E. C. Courtis, of Casterton, who has ■laid the sum of £lO per annum. Lately the Curator, finding that the

hand was very va'nnblp, conceivet] tinidea of selling it, bnt found that owing to certain technicalities, it would ho in cess-iry fur him to take out another Milo in oider to obtain a title, and this was done veiy leconlly. The land will therefore he Mild, the proceeds going to the consolidated revenue, and the last official step will he taken in connection with the feailm tragedy of nearly thirty years ago, lint-is still the stock tradition of the fair Valley of tho (I lentog.