MURDER AT SANDRIDGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6503, 30 December 1881, Page 6

MURDER AT SANDRIDGE.

A murder of a cold-blooded and outrageous character, tbe result of a drunken brawl between two women, occurred (says the Melbourne Age on Dee. 10) at Brewster’s lane, Sandridge. The principals in the tragedy are women who have before this made themselves notorious by their conduct, and the neighbourhood is tho lowest part of Bandridge. About six weeks ago a woman named Jane Vann, about 88 year* of age, and the mistress of a man named Allister, obtained a warrant for the apprehension of a neighbour, named Catherine M’Kean, a powerfully set woman, about 40 years of m|e, who bad smashed in her windows and destroyed her furniture whilst in a passion. Tho Bandridge Bench, recognising the gravity of the offence, fined M'Eean E 5, or fourteen days’ imprisonment, and as she wa# unable to pay her fine ebo went to gooh On Saturday night, at nine o'clock, M'lean came to Vann's door, and in an insulting ton# remarked *' that she bad not come this time to «ma*h window* and furniture,, hut heads." Wqmaa-lUc, Vann at onto came out and atked what she meant, when the latter replied with a well-directed blow, which knocked Vann down. She tried to rise, bet whilst she was in the art of doing so M'Ksen knocked her down again. By this time the assailant bed worked herself into a fury, and deliberately jumped on the unfortunate women, and danced on her body for several minute*. Tbe entreaties of the fallen woman seemed only to Increase the pleasure M'Kcan took In continuing her murderous assault. At lest Vann showed unmwUleable sign* «* exhaustion, and very soon afterward* became quite unooßiokua. Tim woman M'Kean then got off tho body of the woman, but before leaving licked Vann several tlms# on the head and body. Vann wa* left lying in the a“ ■ till her paramour came home, and her In that condition. He removed her to her bed, and left shortly afterward*, and returned at about midnight, qmte drunkRelng in this condition, he, of course, din sot notice the condition of the woman, out threw himself on a sofa In the kitchen, where he etept till five o’clock yesterday morning. He then addressed the woman and Jawed she spoke to Mm. Allister left shortly after this, and on going outside .met a woman, to

whom he expressed a belief that Tan n was dead. Hhe Immediately went late the hones, and found that this was the case. No communication of the oo* curenoo woe made to the police till after the return of Altkter, who informed don* stable Gardner of the oiroumstancre, and that officer removed the body to the morgue. There were a few marks about-the fact and body to indicate that violence had Wen need, but they wera not of a serious character. In the meantime, M'Kean, hearing that Yann was dead, and that the police would In all probability arrest her, looked herself up in her bouse, and, to male the door and windows sseove, she nailed them eeveral times. Three constables, tinder the charge of Seoior-comiteMe JohmoiK arrived, and demanded sdmtarion, but of course received no reply. The officer in oharge, instead of betaking open the door, smashed In the window, but no sooner did he put hie head through than be waa welcomed by a blow from a saucepan, lersltsd by the hand of M'Esan, which had tho effect of making Johnson retire. A civilian then, on Ids own responsibility, kioked in the door, and M'Kcan was rushed upon and seised while she was in tho act of swinging a small sledge hammer at random. She waa then taken to the Sandridge watch-house and looked up. - ;