Murder In Melbourne.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 189, 15 August 1904, Page 4

Murder In Melbourne.

„ . MELBOURNE, July 10. Mis Veitch, the wife of A. C M tch, a baker, a t Clifton Hill, was murdered at .her incidence in O'Gradv Street between eight and ten o'clock this morning.

A boy, who wont to the shop to purchase broad a t the latter hour met with no response to his knocks.' He waited outside until one of the employees at the bakery named Williams, who had been delivering bread returned to the shop. He acquainted him with the fact that there was nobody to serve him. Williams became curious and crossed from the shop into tho passage leading to the residence of tho Vei tches.

He had only gone a few siteps when he found the dead body of Mrs Veitch lying close to the kitchen Uoor '"in a pool of Mooch The unfortunate woman had a long buggy whip clasped firmly in her right hand. Her head was almost severed from her body, and tlhe wounds lookod as if they had been ii>oictod with a sharp butcher's knife.

Althougih that portion of tho suburb in which the bakery is situated lis thickly populated, the neighbours I Bay that t'hoy heard no screams. It is also very apparent that Mrs Veitch fought very hard with the man, who, becoming desperate, must have seized the knife and silenced her. On one of the deceased's hands was a deep gash suggesting the probability that the struggling woman tried to wrest the knife from her assailant.

The intruder had evidently made preparations before entering the house, as both the bajck door and the front gate of the house, and the 'door of the shop, were locked. That he also tried to silence the terrier dog tied up in the yard is evident from the marks of blood on the animal's head where -he had patted it. Blood stains were also found in the house leading from where the body was found to the bathroom. The police were hastily summoned to the scene and -a search made for any clue that might lead to the identification of tho murderer. A bundle of blood-stained baker's clothes was found in an outhouse, and in consequence of the discovery it was decided to arivst Charles Williams, aged 19, who was «n apprentice at the bakery, and to whom the lad first mentioned that he wanted to buy bread, but could raise mo answer to his knocks.

The arrested man was charged this afternoon with wilful murder. When tho body was first discovered Williams stated that ho left the shop at eight o'clock, shortly after Mrs Veitch had given him a glass of milk.

Accusc-d, who is a tall,well-made young man, denied that either tho blood-staintd clothing or tTie handkerchief marked "J. Williams," found in one of the pockets, belonged to him. He told Sergeant McManamy that he went out for a walk and came back close to the house about ten o'clock. He saw a little boy, who (old l-.-iin that he could not got into tho shop, and that he could not make anyone hear. Accused said lie ran to the place and opined the door. When ho got into tho passage he saw Mrs Veitch lying dead in a pool of blood. He then ran out into the street calling out murder. This .statement causvd McManainy to have suspicions that Williams was concerned ill the murder, for ho Considered that if ho did not know something about the matter why should he say the woman was murdered ?

Williaimi hai been living in Queen's Parade. Clifton Hill, and the police visited his room ami there found a pair of boots 011 which were stain?, apparently those of human blood. A young muu who occupied the. same room us Williams came home about nine o'clock this morning. He did not notice how he was dress:d, but heaid lvim wrapping something up. When ho had finished he went out into the bathroam to wash, but all the time he did not spe*k.

CONFESSION BY THE PRISONER Later 011 in the day, when confronted with evidences of his act, Williams made a full confession. He said he had 'hurt his 1 thumb while working in tho bakery, -and deceased, hearing him use strong language, severely admonished him. Williams replied, "Mind your own business." Mrs Veitch became enraged, and picked up a knife and buggy whip, and advanced towards Williams, who grappled with her. Mrs Veitch, who was a strong woman of big build and muscularly strong, held her own 'in Hie contest for some minutes, but linallyWilliams secured a knife, and, lie be pays, plunged it deep into her neck. Before she fell dead at his net lie drove the blade into other portions of the neck. Realising I lie awful deed he had committed, Williams hid the knife IxMiind the flue in the fireplace, and hastened to clean up the evidences of the crime that might tell against him. 'dial he only partially succeeded is shown 'by the fact that the police were so soon able to sheet the whole affair home to him. The murdered woman was about 30 years of age, and was Veitch's second wife. lltr grown-up stepdaughter was in the house shortly before the murder was committed, but had to leave her stepmother in order to go to a position she had accepted. Mr Veitch has been in a dazed condition ever since the discovery, mwl run barely grasp th'e situation. lie says young Williams seemed to he of excellent disposition and had always gone about, his work quietly and inoffensively. His wife, he says, was also possessed of a kindly nature, and was loved by all who know her.