MURDER AND ARSON AT DUNEDIN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 64, 15 March 1880, Page 2

MURDER AND ARSON AT DUNEDIN.

[The telegram to which the following is evidently the sequel has not reached us.] Dtjnedin, Monday. There is every reason to believe that yesterday's affair was the result of a brutal murder 5 that a sleeping unconscious man had been killed by one stroke» and that a deliberate attempt had been made to conceal all evidence of the crime by burning down the house in which the deed was done. The last thing known of any of the members of the family on Saturday night was that Grant travelled by tram car from South Dunedin to the corner of St. David's-atreet, and hence he, no doubt, proceeded home. The next thing we hear in connection with the family is that about four o'clock on Sunday morning a neighbor named Henry Haydon, who happened to be up for a few moments, saw a light in one of the rooms of the house. This was the sitting-room, and from this until close upon 7 o'clock nothing was known. Shortly before 7 o'clock Robb, sen., who lives in Lambert's place opposite, noticed smoke issuing from the residence of Mr Grant's, and, hia son being a member of the Fire Brigade, the father naturally aroused him. After satisfying himself that the smoke was really coming from the house, Robb, jun., donned his uniform and ran across the street and called to the inmates, but got no answer. He tried the front door, but found it loekei, and ran round at once to the back. By this time he was certain that the house was on fire, as smoke waa issuing from underneath the eaves, and from the windows, &c. He found the back door open, and rushing in he went up the passage and into the bedroom, hearing, as he did so, a gurgling noise in the room. He found the smoke so thick as to prevent his seeing anything and he had to go down on his knees, and bad not made above a movement or two in this way ere he felt a body lying on the floor. Catching bold of it he dragged it out and placed it half way in the sitting room, and as he moved it he heard a groan which convinced him that the person was alive, aud when he got it out he found it was that of a woman. He then obtained assistance and quencted the fire. During this ume Robb found Grant himself lying on the bed, but seeing that he was dead, and having got the fire under, he did not move the body. At the head of the bed was an ordinary American axe which belonged to the house. Grant had a severe blow on the head inflicted by this instrument for it was covered with blood, and blood was also on the pillow and over the bed and spattered over the wall. The wound had been made not by the blade of the axe, but by the butt. Dr Brown states there can be no question that the blow was given while Grant was quietly sleeping and that it caused death immediately. Mrs Grant had three wounds, iuflicted also by a portion of the axe other than the sharp edge, and these had undoubtedly been inflicted while the woman was in bed, for she had burns about the body and legs, and her nightdress was also burned, thus, apparently, she must have had a conscious interval after receiving the blows and made an attempt to get from the room. The baby had no blow upon it. Underneath the bed, after the blows had been struck and the axe placed at the head of the bed, a lighted candle had been placed and the bed clothes were partly burned, the mattress was burned pretty well through, and a hole made in the floor. It is a strange thing that none of the neighbors heard any noise. The parents of the deceased were living immediately in the rear, but saw nothing of any of the family after between three and four o'clock oh Saturday afternoon. There is not the slightest sign about the house of any disturbance or struggle, nor is there the slightest reason to believe that robbery was committed, as Mrs Grant's jewellery remained untouched on a chest of drawers in the bedroom, and the house was perfectly in order. Mrs Grant died at the Hospital this morning at 12'30. Dr Browne, when she was admitted, at once treated her wounds, andas the result of thia during, yp=terday afternoon she breathed more easilj', and slight hopes were then entertaiued other possibly recovering consciousness. All the papers urge the Government to offer a large reward for the apprehension of the murderers.