Shocking Murder of a Woman.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 39, 21 March 1883, Page 2

Shocking Murder of a Woman.

.;»Xy ♦ A horrible murder was found to have been committed at 2 Belhaven-street, a small turning leading out of Grove road, Bow, on 19th January. The house m question ha 3 been tenanted by a married couple named Heminins:s, Hemmings being - a policemAn»at-the« * docks. On the morning of the day named Mr Hemmings went out to work at his usual time, and did not- return home until about 5 o'clock. He knocked at the door, but could not make anybody hear, > and then ihe let himself m by his latch-key. On enterring he called for his wife, but received r no reply. On going to ; the kitchen, which is also used as a dwelling-room, he was horrified to fiud his wife lying; dead upon the floor, bleeding trom a*terrible wound m the forehead,, which ' had evidently been inflicted by a poker which lay on the r,ng, and there were marks of blood and hair upon the instrument. The husband at once' sent for a doctor and called m a police-con-stable. An examination was then made of the place; and a watch, two i rings, and some other articles of small value were found to be missing. , These things were safe when' Mr Hemmings left home m the morning. The murder had evidently been committed ' a short 1 time before it was discovered,' 'as tbe unfortunate woman was engaged m preparing her husband's tea. No. cry tor help or any kind of disturbance was"*' heard, by, any^of tb,e neighbonrs, r one of whom, however, states that shie sa^ Mrs Hemmings 'at about three o'clock. There are no lodgers m the bouse, and the 'murdere'd' woman is' said tordbravehad no children;: Stephen Hamming*, stepson of the woman, was arrested on suspicion, but, after a* brief examination before the local wwats t discharged. ;" ----^ai.