THE OAMARU MURDER CASE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2900, 12 July 1882, Page 2

THE OAMARU MURDER CASE.

[By Tblegeaph.] Oamaru, July 11. The enquiry regarding the death of Sarah Adams was resumed to-day at Peebles. The first witness was Fredk. NeibS, yvlio said he went to deceased’s house to buy fowls on the 7th Juno, He cooeyed for her, and sho opened the door and came out. She was all shaking. When they had caught a couple of fowls she said —‘‘ My husband is going to kill me,” and went into the house. Sho came out again and said, “ My husband is going to kill me. He will kill mo." Witness told her not, to be frightened. She said ho would do

so, and shook frightfully. She said she had been in Oamara on Saturday and if she had seen her husband he would not kill her. On the 17th he again looked for her in town, but did not find her. On Tuesday, 20th June Beattie came to witness’ house in Oamaro, and said he wanted to see him particularly. Beattie said “My wife is away,’’ and witness asked him inside. Witness told him that his wife told witness that her husband intended te kill her ; and he said “ Kill her?” and changed color and looked into the fireplace. Auley McAuley, a farmer, gave evidence to the effect that Mrs Beattie came t? his house on the sth June. She asked witness to drive her home, but he declined to do so at such an hour, but said he would do so if ah® would wait until four o’clock. Witness asked deceased to stay with him for a week, but she persisted in asking him to drive her borne. He did so, and started about five o’clock. , On the road she said she was clear of what bad been said of her and Barney Carroll. Witness told her that if he saw Beattie, ho would induce him to go back to her. She said she did not think this would be of any use. He drove her up to the manse, where she got out. She thanked him and bade him good-bye. This was the last time he saw her. On the 6th, Beattie was at his house inquiring for witness, but he was not in. Beattie came on the following evening about seven o'clock and was sober. Beattie asked if witness bad driven his wife down, and he replied that he had, and told him where he had left her. Witness told Beattie that by the way he was carrying on, he was killing himself and his wife, and advised him to go home and make friends with his wife; Beattie replied that his wife was not innocent, and said that he could prove it. He said that be told her he was not going home on the Saturday night, but he had gone home and caught her in Barney’s house. Edith Mar wood said that Mrs Beattie had told her that Beattie had struck at her, and showed witness a mark on her arm.

A number of others were examined, whose evidence was principally to the effect that they had seen Beattie on particular days. At about ten o’clock p.m. the jury, after half an hour’s consultation, returned the following verdict—“ That Sarah Beattie, or Adams, came by her death by the hand of some person: or persons to the jury unknown/’ ; THIS DAY. Alexander Beattie was charged, on remand, at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, with the murder of Sarah Beattie' or Adams. He was' further remanded until Tuesday next. '