SHOCKING MURDER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1685, 12 January 1888, Page 3

SHOCKING MURDER.

Melbourne, Jan. 3. A murderous attack was made by a man named Eeret on a mate named Lawrence, at Burton, iu the country, on Thursday last. The two men were employed by the proprietor of the Burton Hotel, and slept in the same hut. The only particulars are given by Eeret, who is in custody for the murkier, as Lawrence has since died in the hospital. He said that Lawerence accused him of stealing his tobacco and matches, and after calling hinrnames, took up a tomahawk and knife and threatened to kill him. Eeret said he got up, put on his trousers, took up a long auger which was lying near, and struck Lawrence to the ground. Lawrence got up, when Fcret again struck him on the head, and felled him. Be hit him with the same weapon several times as he lay on the ground. Eeret then turned into bed, and at early morn arose and went to his usual work, leaving Lawrence on the ground insensible. One of the young Nicholls’, u son of the landlord, had o3casion to visit the hut, when he was horrified to find Lawrence lying on the ground in *apool of blood, with terrible wounds on his head. A man named Gater was called in, and he washed the unfortunate man, who was almost choked with blood, his only means of breathing being two small apertures in the nostrils, which were nearly closed with clotted blood. The hut presented a horrible appearance. Beside the unconscious man lay a long iron auger, bent nearly double and covered with blood and hair. A messenger was at once sent to Mary’s Hill, seven miles away. When Constable Barry arrived be bad Lawrence placed in a conveyance, and having arrested Eeret on a charge of inflicting grievous bodily injury, found room for him in the same trap, and proceeded to Alexandra, making the prisoner look after Lawrence, who received every attention but never regained consciousness.