ANOTHER DUNEDIN TRAGEDY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2181, 15 March 1880, Page 2

ANOTHER DUNEDIN TRAGEDY.

Dunedin, which has lately been earning an unenviable reputation for its accidents and offences, has added another to its list of tragedies. On Sunday morning James Murray Dewar, alias Grant, a butcher, residing in Cumberland street, was found dead, his wife injured almost beyond hope of recovery, bis child suffocated, and the bedroom on fire, a lighted candle having been placed under the bed. The deceased was in the employ of Mr Dornwell, butcher, of George street. He was about 30 years of age, and had been in the colony nearly 22 years. His proper name was Dewar, but Iris mother (who resides in a house just behind his) having re-married a carpenter named Grant, he adopted his stepfather's name. Between five and six o’clock the milkman who supplies the family on making his customary visit to the house was startled by seeing smoke issuing from one of the front windows. Ho knocked loudly at the front door, and receiving no reply, raised an alarm, which brought some neighbors to the scene, and subsequently a member of the Eire Brigade, and Sergeant Dean, and a constable. On the house being entered, Mrs Grant was discovered lying on the floor in her nightdress, with blood issuing from her head, and quite unconscious. The bedroom was next visited, and it was found full of smoke. There, on the bed, lay Mr Grant, with a severe wound on his head, evidently inflicted by an axe, which lay at hand, and which bore marks of blood on it. The infant was also in bed, apparently suffocated, the lower part of the mattress having been set fire to by a lighted candle, which was found alongside of it. Mrs Grant was then lifted from oil' the lloor and carried into the sitting room. Dr. Niven, who was sent for, on seeing her condition, ordered her removal to the Hospital. The tragedy must have been committed very early this morning, but by whom it was done, whether it was the act of a stranger or of cither of the Grants, is a question that the police are now endeavoring to solve. So far as we can learn, nothing has been missed from the house, nor does anything in the other rooms appear to have been disturbed. The only suspicious circumstance is that the door of the house was found to be open. The wounds on Grant’s head and those on his wife appear to the unprofessional eye to negative the theory of having been self-inflicted, and there is the additional circumstance, vouched for by many people who know the couple intimately, that they lived very happy lives. The strangest part of the whole affair is that none of the neighbors, some of whom lived about twelve feet from Grant’s house, heard even the slightest noise, and were only awoke by the alarm of tiro, which from another source we hear was raised by a fireman who lives close by r . The woman who

still lies unconscious at the Hospital, has three wounds on her head, causing a compound depressed fracture of the skull. One of the wounds is on the head, the second behind the right ear, and the third on the temple. The affair has caused great excitement.

LATER. [By Tur.KGßArir.] DUNEDIN—THIS DAY. There is every reason to believe that yesterday’s affair was the result of a brutal murder ; that the sleeping and unconscious man had been killed by one stroke, and that a deliberate attempt was made to conceal all evidence of the crime by burning down the house, in which the deed was done. The last thing known about any of the members, of; the family on Saturday night, is that Grant travelled by a tramcar from South Dunedin to the corner of St. David street, whence no doubt he was proceeding home. The next thing we hear, in connection with the family, is that about 4 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 front rooms of the house. This was the sitting room. From this till close upon 7 o’clock, nothing is known. Shortly before 7 o’clock, Robb, senr., who lives in Lambeth place, opposite, noticed smoke issuing from the residence of the Grants. _ His son being a member of the Fire Brigade the father naturally aroused him. After satisfying himself that smoke was really coming from the house, Robb, junr., donned his uniform, and ran across the street. He called the inmates, but got no answer ; tried the front door, but found it locked, and ran around at once to the back. At this time he was certain the house was on fire, as smoke was issuing underneath the caves from the windows, etc. He found the back door open, and rushing in, went up the passage into the bedroom hearing as he did so a gurgling noise. In the room he found the smoke so (hick as to prevent his seeing anything, and he had to go down on his knees. He had only made a movement or two in this way when ho felt a body lying on the lloor. Catching hold of it he dragged it out, and placed it half way in the sitting-room. As he moved it he heard a groan, which convinced him the person was alive. When he got the body out he found it was that of a woman. He then obtained assistance and quenched the fire. Dating this time Robb found Grant himself lying on the bed, but seeing he was dead, and having got the lire 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 wound on his head, evidently inflicted by this instrument, for ic was covered with blood. Blood was also on the pillow and over the bed, and spattered over the wall. The wound had been made not by the sharp blade of the axe, but by tire but tend. 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’s three wounds were inflicted also by a portion of the axe other than the sharp edge. They had undoubtedly been inflicted while the woman was in bed, for she has burns about her body and legs, and her nightdress is also burned. Thus, apparently she must had a conscious interval after receiving the blow and must have made an abortive attempt to get from the room. The baby had no marks upon it. I nderneath the bed, after the blows had been struck, and tlic axe placed at the head of the bod, a lighted candle had been placed. The bedclothes were partly burned, and the mattrass burned pretty well through and a hole made in the floor. A strange thing is none of the neighbors heard any noise. The parents of the deceased, living immediately in the rear, saw nothing of any of the family alter between id and I o’clock on Saturday afternoon. There was not the slightest sign about the house afterwards of any disturbance or struggle, nor is there the slightest reason to believe that a 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 12.60. Dr Brown when she was admitted at once treated her wounds, and as the result of this during the afternoon she breathed more easily, and slight hopes were then entertained of her possibly recovering consciousness.

The scene of the occurrence is a cottage which is nearly new, standing a few yards back from the line of Cumberland street, and just about 100 yards to the roar of Lincoln cottage, where the Hayes’ tragedy occurred a few weeks ago" Up to the time of his marriage, about 18 months ago, Grant lived with his mother and stepfather. His wife’s maiden name was Elizabeth Aitcheson. She was the daughter of a settler at Mocraki, and had been before her marriage a domestic servant in (he employ of Mr W. JS T . Blair, engineer for the Middle Island. Airs Blair gives her the highest character, and she was a great favorite with the family.