The Newthorne Murder.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 304, 8 December 1884, Page 2

The Newthorne Murder.

[Own Corkespondent.j Dunedin, December 8. The two prisoners, While and Crowley, were brought up at Outran) on Saturday, charged with the murder of William Meldrum. The case was adjourned pending the the inquest. This was held in the afternoon. The medical evidence showed that death resulted from knife wounds. Dr. McCan said if proper appliances had been at hand an hour after the occurrence the man’s life might probably have been saved. White and Fitzgerald, the latter being still at large, were boarders with Meldrum. Evidence was given by Mrs. Meldrum and some navvies as io hearing remarks by one or other of the three men that they would kill Meldrum, and if they had a knife they would cut his throat. They were all in drink. It is not known exactly how the row began, but it seems a woman named Burke was in Outram a day nr two before, and complained that M-*ldrum had cut her on the head, and was heard to say she would get some of the boys to go for Meldrum. Fitzgerald made a remark during the evening when a number of men were playing cards at Meldrum’s that he was Irish, and meant to have a row. The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Laurence , White, Thomas Crowley, and George Fitzgerald. Word has been received by the police of Fitzgerald having been seen at a place called Clark’s Flat. He left Newthorne with the avowed intention of going to Dunedin to tell the police all about the affair and give himself up, but evidently changed his mind on the road.