The Oxley Murder.

Manawatu Herald, 2 March 1899, Page 3

The Oxley Murder.

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.

STORY OF THE CRIPPLED BOY. Australian papers just to hand contain reports ot the magisterial inquiry into the death of the boy Hill near Oxley who was murdered recently under particularly atrocious circumstances. Edward Leton Carus Wilson, an exclergyman, who had been arrested at Albany on suspicion of having been concerned in the affair, was present in custody. The principal witness was the son of the accused, a crippled boy of about eleven years of age. In his testimony the lad gave details of his own and his father's movements { in their overland journey from Brisbane, and then went on to say : — " Before coming to Oxley we met a boy riding a piebald horse. The boy passed us, walking up the hill. He met us close to the place where the road branches off. Then my father turned round, and wheeled me back a few yards towards Ipswich, and went into the bush. While my father was wheeling me back I saw the boy on the pony just by a fence surrounding a hollow with stones in it. When my father left me in the road and went into the bush he went in the direction of Ipswich. He left me in a cart on the side of the road, on the right h,and side, looking towards Ipswich. My father did not turn the cart round, but jirtt left it standing as it was. When my father started taking me towards Itawich, I asked him where he was gdlng. He said he was going into the bush, and would be back soon. My father left me in the road, and went ibto the bush at a place where the fence Was broken down. I could only see him for a short distance, and then the trees were in the way, and I lost sight 6f him. I remained there for some time, and I heard the report of a revolver. Some time after my Father freturned. He came out of the trees a Uttle higher up towards Ipswich than frhere my cart was standing. He said he kad shot a hawk and asked me if I Was all right. I said "Yes." I then Asked, " Where have you been ? He Replied, " I have just shot a hawk in the bush." My father said that he had hit the hawk in the wing. He asked me if I thought he had been away a long time. He did not tell me any more about the hawk, but asked me not to say anything at all about it. My father then wheeled me to the road. The swagger we met came from the road on the right hand side bf the Ipswich road, looking towards Brisbane. When we met him my father spoke to him, but I could not hear what he said because they were talking in a low tone. After they ceased talking we came on, my father dragging my cart. Nothing occurred before we got to the Oxley Hotel except the meeting of a lady and gentleman in a cart. My father called at a house before we reached the hotel, on the left hand side going towards Ipswich. He did not stay long but I heard a person speaking *o him, I think I heard a man's voice. It was dusk at the time. After that we went on to the Oxley Hotel. When we arrived my father had some ale, and then we both had our tea. After tea my father put me into bed in a room the door of which opens into the road at one end ot the hotel. There were only two beds in the room the beds being small ones. I slept alone that night, arid did not see my father going to bed at all. I was awakened in the morning by my father. We had breakfast, and then left the hotel, my father dragging mv cart. We came on to Brisbane. On the wav we passed Corinda station, but I do not remember the other places we Came through. At Connda my father went to the station and asked if there was a train to Southport. At Brisbane we went to the Exchange Hotel at first but afterwards we went to the Metropolitan Hotel, where we stayed that night. Next morning my father took his shirt away to be washed. He told me about this afterwards, and also said, "I have sold my revober at the nearest shop to the hotel." He did not tell me which shop. I know what a revolver is. The first time I saw a revolver was when my father showed me one. He showed me his revolver at Ipswich, and taught me how to load it. The day before my father left Ipswich I saw only five cartridges in the box. My father took the revolver from his black trunk before proceeding to teach me how to load it. At that time it was in a leather case. When we were leaving Ipswich that morning I did not see my father put anything in his pocket. Coming along the road my father had other clothes than what he was previously wearing. I was holding a parcel of clothes in the cart. I went to a house where my father was fetaying the day before we left Ipswich. That was when I saw the five cartridges, but I did not see the revolver." Witness, who had throughout given most intelligent answers, was then carried out of court. Sergeart Shanahan, at this stage: " I would ask your worships to adjourn til 6 CclSC*'' The Bench : " This inquiry stands adjourned sine die."