MURDER NEAR HOKITIKA.

Southland Times, Issue 921, 23 March 1868, Page 12

MURDER NEAR HOKITIKA.

STRANGE CONFESSION AND COMMITAL* ;; i .' QP THE MURDERER. The. "West Coast; Times " contains aii account of the commitment, .before, Mr Keogh, E.M., of James Douglas;; accused of the murder of Hugh . Car-: _ michael, at German Gully, at the Waimea, on [the .28th November last. ....,,._..•:■ After Charles Dry, Thomas Swainston,. ■ Sergeant McMoyn, and Thomas Williams had given their evidence, . ... John Hickson deposed;, l, am senior sergeant' of police satioried at Hokitika. At twelve iriidriight on Saturday, January 18th, . I entered the lockup, at Waimea, where prisoners James Douglas and Thomas Williams were confined. ' Constable Moneyham visited the prisoners at this hour, and whilst he had the light ifrom- his dark, lantern thrown on.; the faces of the prisoners, I got. behind\him unperceiyed and unheard by either of the prisoners. 1 I sat in the corner of the of -the cell, behind the door. I then jsig'nalled" to constable Moneyham , that I was in, and he retired and secured the door. Shortly' after this I heard prisoner. . Williams say to prisoner Douglass, "I say, Jem, what about that man Hughey that you put away ?" Douglas replied. What are you talking-, about? -1 put no man away. '; Williams said: 'Why, you told me 'when we; were in thecell together, at Hokitika that you had settled , an old mate ? named Aughey, and put him where noohe'wbuld firid him for a few months. Douglas replied : we are not sufficiently long together for me to tell you that. Williams said : But you did tell me ; hovy else could I know it? .And you also told me how, you shot a lawyer at Sail 3?rancisce. , Douglas replied : 0, you must have been dreaming.; . ;

Williams: Is it a dream about your shooting the lawyer? Douglas (with an oath) : No, it is ri,ot, for I nearly blew the fellow's d-^— d head off v Williams : How did it occur. Douglas : Why the fellow called me a liar in the court-house, '* and I called him out next morning and ble# his brains out. I could shoot any felloyr at twenty-five yards, much less fifteen. f *'" V*■ Williams: And is it true yOu put Hughyaway? Douglas: O, go to sleep. I know. all about it, and you may take what meaning you like out of that. Williams : It is rumored that you "were seen at Hughy's tent on the ;night you put him away. Douglas : O ! it is that d— 7— d fellow Dry that is sayirig that. lam to be . up on Wednesday next, and I suppose a few witnesses will be examined, and I' will be remanded, and they will take me to Hokitika, I will be remanded from time to tinie, and they will bring a little evidence against ihe each time,* and ' in : the end they will convict me and hang me. , I (sergeant Hickson), left the cell' at four o'clock on the morning of the AL9th. instant, both prisoners were asleep when Heft. At 11 O'clock on the night of Monday, the; 20th 01 January, I entered the lockup at Waimea, in the same manner, as I* did.on the night ofthe 13th; prisoners Douglas and Williams were there, tl heard the. latter say— as if resuming a conversation they had had before I en-tered-I^-" Jem, I forgot to mention to you that it is rumored that a woman down the gully says that she saw a tall man like you at Hughy's tent on the night you put him away." Douglas .* .That is all a d ■■ -.d lie-^-I would bet .-£IOO that if I was in the court-house to-morrow amongst others that that woinan would not pick me out : I was never near her but once. '-' ■•;•■ Williams : Well, it is said that her child was sick cm that night, and hearing the dogs, barking, she looked out and saw a man like you walk away from Hughy's tent. ..-■■■...■• Douglas : Oh 1 they are telling lies.*Williams: Well, it looks very suspi" ciOus about your going-awjay-iiexlnnorn-ing.! " VV; ; -' :;..*■ • t: - ; - _• ■■■■■■■a'\ -A ■'■' -'■' . Douglas :: What is is it tb me if all-the fellows in; the gully were killed ; I might; have stopped there longer if there hadbeen water. .■.*■" '<■•;■ : /' V , Williams : Cari I do anything for you?~ . Douglas: No, unless you can get lawyer Button for me ; I think he will get : me off 'If It get off, and 'get a revolver, Master Dry, and Detective Brown, -and - Inspector Borham may look out. AUvE would .ask would- be two days to see my ■ -way clear. A'" '"'A'AA I - Williams : - Have you nothing ' planted that you would • wish me to remove, * so '■'. that Ithe police could not find it ? ; __ Douglas: No. j ■ 'A A"'" Williams:; Have yoii nothing else to tell me? :■- -' -** -V - : ''-'A, -.'AA - Douglas; No. I will not throw away a last chance, -but if I : am 'convicted y ou f can manage to be 4 in .-the* court-house -f-- 1 --. it is sure to be crowded., and when they are removing me from the -dock, you can • hand; me -something -that I can 1 take my . life with. Poison- is better; than- a* knife for if you are seen handing me anything they are sure 'to -search me at 6hce,'and L could take poison-before they could pre--vent me. v ; a -a. ■.■■■■:• '''-'■■ ■••' : VWilliams : How ! am I ! : to ' get ; *: the poison?^;-' AA :•■■•:. ■••• , *'.;*. ,• •'"\ l Ai :i \ y "' : ' A.Douglas: Go-tothe chemist arid say' 1 • that you have A® dog -that -has been run over, and you' cannot bear to see him; suf- '<'■ 'fer, and that you could not find it in your heart to shoot him.- 'Then ask for a - dose: of: strong poison that will put him out of his pain at once. Strychnine is [ the best;. you _ cari hand; it to me in a small piece of paper, and then, when they -'come to look for me *m tbejmorning, they will find/ as the 'darkie said, -that I 'am not there. Ido not care to/die, r but . I will not be hanged like a dog! Let the'rii r shoot me or Cut my head off, but not hang ! .me; ■• ."■'■■'' •' ' ■'"' " , Williams: Have you nothing to tell' -*' me* aboutyour family? ; , ':, Douglas-: No; it "ir time enough for •_• that. \No orie shall know of thein^ until * the last : moment' ; all that Can be .said', to them hereafter is that Idied in' prison^' l I (Sergeant .Hickson) left the 'cell: wai-AA "' . seen and; unheard at K. o'clock onthe,

morning of the 21st. I left it in "the same manner as I entered it. On Wednesday the 22nd, I entered the lockup at 11 30 p.m.. Prisoners Williamß and Douglas were there. Immediately • . after entering I heard them speaking of the murder of Carmichael. Williams was asking Douglas why he was such a fool as to go to sleep after having put Carmichael away, and not know where ; " hs was when he awoke in fche morning. . Douglas : The thing is over now andcan't be helped. [Witness stated that the notes he was then reading were taken immediately after he left the cell.] Williams : If you had to go away at once or remain and not go at all; you might not be suspected: Douglas: Yes, only that felloWDry knew that we were not on good terms. Williams : If the thing was to be done over again you would know better. . Douglas ; Yes. But you see when a man is in a passion he does not know what he is doing. Williams : When you went to Dry's tent next morning you wouldhave settled him too only for the three Irishmen who passed. Douglas : That I would. Williams : Were you afraid of the Irishmen or the dog that Dry had in his tent? Douglas : I was more afraid of the dog, for he would kick up a noise, and bark and run about and attract attention. Williams: Dry said he found Carmichael with his shirt pulled over his head— was it you did it ? Douglas : No. Dry must have done it when turning him over to look at him. Williams : If you had settled Try that morning as you intended, they would not have found Carmichael so soon ? Douglas: No, not for some months. Williams: It was well for you that the night was dark, or they would have found your tracks where you dragged Carmichael from his tent to the hole. Douglas: Yes, but the distance is very short — about twice the length of this cell. Williams : You did not leave Hugh in the first hole you shoved him into ? Douglas : No. I. turned him over and pulled him out, and chucked him into another hole close by. Williams : Was the hole you put him into first the one in which the axe was found? Douglas : Yes. Williams : Did you move the axe out of tbe hole you threw it into. Douglass : No. ....._. Williams : What about the half-ounce of gold you saw Carmichael hide when you were dividing mates ? Douglas: Why, the fellow, him and Dry chiselled me ; and one day, whilst my back was turned to Carmichael, I happened to look round, and saw him put about half an ounce of gold under a mustard tin on top of a rock. I could not say exactly to half an ounce or twelve dwt. I then meant to have it in for tbe fellow. Williams: Where was Hughy when you came to his tent on the night when you put him away ? Douglas • He was in his tent ; and as he came to the door he said, "Hallo t)ouglaSj is that you?" I said yes, I have come to liave a settlement with you; with that he took hold of his tomahawk, and lifted it up, and I said— is that your game ? I rah out anp took up a waddy, and as "quick as I got out, he was out fts 'quick, he raised the axe ; I ducked and ran in under his arms. I warded on 7 the blow with the waddy, andthea knocked him down.. I struck him witli the waddy ; it was a very heavy orie, the tomahawk being light I easily warded it off. Williams: Did he never speak after ,you struck him. down ? Douglas: No. Williams: What sort was the waddy ? Did you bring it with you ? Douglas: It was a piece of firewood I picked up at the door of his tent. Williams: And how do you account for the two cuts in Carmichael's head, .if you did not strike him with the tomahawk? Douglas : It was a piece of wood split •like half round on one side and sharp on 'the other; it would either cut or bruise. 'Williams : How heavy was it ?

Douglas : It was a good heavy piece, about eight pounds, and I chucked it away afterwards. I think if the devil, had been there I would have cut J him . down (with an oath). It was sharp work; it was like a piece of sword exercise. ".:':! J ■ Williams: Was it between nine and" ten o'clock? Douglas : I don't think it was so late ; I think it was about eight o'clock: Williams : Was there a light in Hughy's tent when you went down ? Douglas: Tes. , Williams : Did you put it out ? - Douglas : No. Williams : Then you had no light in your hand when you dragged him to the hole ahd chucked him in ? Douglas : No fear ; do you think I was mad ? Williams : Then how is it that it was said that you were seen with a light in your hand ? Douglas : Oh ! the fellows are telling lies. Williams : What money had Hiighy on him; did you take it? Douglas : I don't know what the fellow had, I did not take it. It must have been that fellow Dry who took it. Williams : Well you had the satisfaction for his chiseling you out of the half ounce of gold. Douglas : Satisfaction, no ; I have not had it ; If I get off I'll do for Master Dry and more of them. I would do the thing fifty times over again on to-morrow and think nothing of it. Williams : It is well that no one croased your path that night. Douglas*. It was, fori would do for ropy fellow. Williams: I should not like to have met you that night. Douglas: No; nor would I. Now you know all about it, and you have my life in your hands. WiUiams : Can Ido anything for you ? Douglas : No, but get the lawyer Button for me. Williams : Will I tell him about the half ounce of gold ? Douglas : Are you mad ; if you speak of that all is up ; they will then- see that I had a spite in for him, and nothing would save me. The lawyer would see at once that I was guilty, and he would not take such a case. You must tell the lawyer that Carmichael and I have never had a word, that we lived on good terms, and that Dry and he did not agree, and that Dry Settled him, and now wants to put it on to me. I will get off if I can, but if I can't why be d— — -d to it. A-..1..A..A. LV.._ I then saicl : Well, Douglas, , I have been here all night, and have heard every word you have uttered. .. I am seniorsergeant Hickson, from Hpkitika, and there is not a whisper you have uttered to Williams that I have not heard. Douglas: I have said nothing to Williams. I said : Tes, I heard you tell Williams how you murdered Carmichael, and now if either of you stir I will blow your brains out. , ,- • I I then called aloud for constable Moneyhan, who entered with a light. I then said, Douglas look at me and know me. You recollect I was with Mr Bprham at the hospital on the morning that he arrested you on suspicion of having murdered CarmichaeL At the, same time I held a lamp so that prisoner Douglas could see my face, ana he said, Yes, I tecollect having seen you before* . I said : You were then arrested on suspicion, but I now arrest you formally on your own confession, and I warn you that: anything you may say may be given in evidence against you. Prisoner Douglas said nothing. f I then separated the two prisoners, and instructed constable Moneyhan to keep watch day and night, as I had heard him threaten to take his own life; I then left the cell ; it was a quarter to two a.m. of 23rd January, 1868. The prisoner was fully committed for trial.