BRUTAL MURDER IN OTAGO.

Temuka Leader, Issue 279, 7 August 1880, Page 2

BRUTAL MURDER IN OTAGO.

(By Teleokaph.)

Dtjnedin, August 4.

A fearful tragedy occurred Jasfe night at Kyeburn diggins. Mrs Young,- a highly respected elderly widow, living alone, but with Chinese miners in proximity, was found brutally maltreated, and died this afternoon. She was conscious for a few minutes only. Great distress is felt throughout the district. Robbery appears to be the motive, as the contents of the deceased's purse were taken together with her watch and trinkets. The house had been broken into with stones, two of which were found inside, marked with blood. The murdered woman was in good circumstances; and was universally respected; Atigu'st 5.

Further particulate witli regard to the Kyeburn murder shows that the outrage seems to have been committed early on Wednesday morning* The door of the house was burst open by large stones and knocked off its hinges; Three stones found inside the house are from 1 301b's to 501bs in weight. Two aro covered with blood A Chinaman who was occasionly employed by the deceased was the first to give the alarm She appears to have been able to speak at this time, and asked him to go for assistance On the neighbors arriving she, was asked who did it, whether. Chinamen or Europeans, and she'led them to understand that it was tli3 Chinamen. At this time it is uncertain whether she was r.n conscious or not. A messenger was sent to Naseby for medical aid, and Sergt. Norton, accompanied by a constable and Dr Whitton, immediately left for the scene. The house was found to hav.; been ransacked, and the deceased was lying in her night dress on a mattress on the floor. She had lifted from her bed. A serious wound was discovered on the left side of hei head ; several of her ribs were smashed, and her collar -bone was broken. A hay fork was found near the house. No money or valuables appear to have been taken away. Over LIOOO in deposit receipts and L4(f in cash were discovered. The object of the murder was evidently to plunder, and although all likely places were turned out they missed the money, as it was kept in a place in the kitchen known to herself alone. Mrs Young died from the injuries received at about 11 - 30 p.m. yesterday. She was universally respected, being kind and obliging. She contemplated returning to Scotland very soon.