SUSPECTED MURDERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1045, 19 December 1882, Page 1

SUSPECTED MURDERS.

Warrants have been issued at Auckland for the arrest of Marian Hamilton and Thomas Priestly, the latter a Presbyterian student, charging them with the wilful mmder of the former’s husband, Hugh Aitken Hamilton, who was supposed to have met his death on die night of the 28th ult., by falling head foremost upon the leg of au iron bedstead while in a state of drunkenness. A coroner’s inquest resulted in finding a verdict that deceased met his death by accidentally falling against au iron bedstead. Hus,

however, did not satisfy the deceased’s relatives, and at their instigation the police began to make further investigations, and in the meantime some ugly rumors were being circulated. it was alleged that the widow had been improperly intimate with the young theological student, who taught in the same Sunday school (St. James s, Presbyterian,) as herself, and who lived next door in his mother’s house. The police saw both parties separately, and both of them made contradictory statements. With great patience Superintendent Thomson and Detective Stratheni followed up the trail, and on Friday, having got all the outside testimony possible, they had the prisoners’ property and abode searched, the result being the discovery of a pair of dirty tweed trousers in Priestly’s box, bearing traces of comparatively recent blood, and an axe in the widows house which also showed faint marks of blood, as if there had been au attempt to wash them oil'. The affair lias caused a great sensation. Priestley was a convert from Roman Catholicism, and was Secretary to the Orange Lodge.

A telegram dated December 10, says : Priestly, who was represented by Mr Tyler, and Mrs Hamilton, who was defended by Mr Theo. Cooper, were charged at the Police Court to-day with Hamilton’s murder. The prisoners were remanded till Friday. Priestly was calm, but Mrs Hamilton was much agitated. The following additional particulars in connection with the supposed murder of Hamilton have been obtained Priestly has given three different statements as to where he resided on the night of Hamilton’s death. The detectives, on going to the places named, viz., to Onehuuga, Maugere and the fislung ground at Rangitoto Channel, found the statements incorrect. Priestly staled that on his way back from Oueliunga be called in at Morgan’s chemist’s shop in Ivarargahape road about noon, and there learnt of the murder from those present. On being told Hamilton was dead he exclaimed, ‘ What, Hamilton V and on being | answered, professed great astonishment and concern and then hastened away, I saying the wife would he in a great state and he must see her. To Mr Sweden ho stated he had arrived in town from Oueliunga during the afternoon. The evidence inculpating Mrs Hamilton also consists in some part of contradictory statements. While she alleges her husband to have been so drunk when he emu? homo as to have fallen helplessly and at full length againstau iron bedstea I, he is shown to have left the York Hotel at midnight quite sober, and that his Badge-books were carefully placed away at home and Iris watch wound up and removed from lus waistcoat. Again, too, there is a statement that he did not reach home till between 1 a-in. and J a.m. The fact that traces of blood are nut discoveiablc outside the bouse are very suggestive circumstances, Tire wall of Hamilton’s bedroom at the fool of las bod lias been found to bo lightly bespattered with blood, while on Detective Walker arriving at the house on the morning of Hamilton’s death there bad been a recent attempt to wwsh away traces of blood. He wanted to see Hamilton’s clothes, but could not. The man had been stripped to his shirt, clean bed clothes supplied him, and a carpet (straw malting) cleanly washed. He says further Mrs Hamilton was not removed from the house in an unconscious state, but that she went into her mother’s upon some one recommending her to do so. Great stress is hud upon the discovery of a blood-stained axe. Robert Ncilson (Mrs Hamilton's brother),

found it on the morning of the sad affair lying on a plot of ground between Ixis house and that of his sister, and a little girl says she saw Mrs Hamilton carrying it into her house behind a broom next morning. It is stated by persons well known to the family that Mrs Hamilton a short time ago consulted a solicitor with the object of securing a divorce, and that at the same time she was on very intimate terms with Priestly. The reliability of this statement cannot be vouched for. A more serious matter, which is attracting public attention, is the strange coincidence that on the day Hamilton died an infant of the family also died, and was buried with his father. This becoming publicly known outside, caused much comment, and now there are not wanting many who assert a suspicion that the child died an unnatural death. The police arc called upon to take this additional mystery it' hand, and unravel it to the .satisfaction of all. The purchase of strychnine by Priestly at Ouehuuga, from Mr Gillman, chemist, on the loth November, is alluded to with significance. James A. Sneed, employed at McMaster's, draper, in Queen street, had an interview with Priestly on the morning of Hamilton’s burial bearing directly on the subject of the supposed murder. Sneed gives the following statement of what occurred :—“ It was air the morning of the burial, when 1 was in the shop, that Ihos. Priestly came in, and in the course of the conversation he volunteered that in Ins opinion Hamilton had been waylaid and thrashed. He also remarked, Ton know I was out at Ouehuuga that night, and didn’t return (ill 8 o’clock next afternoon.’ He also said. ‘ Hamilton must have been a strong inau, for all along the sides of the passage vein could see blood marks where his hands had been, and it, must have been outside the house where he was struck.’ Priestly seemed under the impression it was not within the building Hamilton received the cuts, and said he had made particular enquiry of them (moaning 1 suppose Mrs Hamilton and friends) as to how the doors were left, whether open or closed.’ It has been already decided to exhume the bodies of Hugh Hamilton and his child, when a careful examination can be entered into, and several points at present enveloped in mystery may be effectually cleared up. Priestly has been in the province of Auckland almost since childhood, having come from Hobart. Ilis fatliei was an Englishman, and both his parents are dead. Pie has a brother residing at Northern Waiaroa, Kaipara, and his sister, Mrs Morris, resides in Auckland. It is stated that he was at one time servant to Father Paul at Ouehuuga. The Rev Peter Mason states priestly was not a Presbyterian divinity student, but was studying with him to pass au arts examination, conditional to entering upon ministerial training.