MURDER OF A PARAMOUR. Tragedy in Low Life.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 31, 5 January 1884, Page 3

MURDER OF A PARAMOUR. Tragedy in Low Life.

[BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Dunedik, Monday. A man named William, Pearce has been arrested for the murder of Matilda Hancock. The two were cohabiting together. Both were abandoned characters. The woman has been frequently confined for drunkenness and prostitution, whilst Pearce only a few months since came out of gaol, after serving eighteen months for stabbing a man. Pearce and his paramour had been drinking together on Saturday, and had a quarrel, during which she was stabbed, a gaping wound being inflicted on her left side. The woman lingered in her own house till about nine o'clock this morning, when she died, and about eight o'clock this morning Pearce reported to the police that the woman had died suddenly during the night. The police found the body with the wound in it, and also several bruises. An inquest was held this afternoon, at which the only evidence taken was that of Pearce, who deposed to the identity of the deceased. He had known her for eleven years, and had lived with her for four months. She has a daughter seven years old, and she herself was 42. A post-mortem examination showed that death resulted from the wound. The woman is the divorced wife of a man who was a well-known publican in Dunedin some years ago.

Dukedin, Tuesday. It has transpired that Dr. Copeland was called in to see the body of the woman Hancock early on the morning on which she died. It is believed that there were several persons present about the time of the quarrel between the .two, and that a Mrs Boyd can give material evidence. Mrs Boyd attended to the woman after the occuryenpe, and her evidence will probably b© taken afc thg adjourned, inquest on Friday.