SHOCKING MURDERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1900, 4 June 1889, Page 3

SHOCKING MURDERS.

Wellington, J une 1. A death, so tar surrounded by mysterious circumstances, occurred at Upper Kaiwarawara last night, Mr Thomas Hawkins, a well-known settler, who lived in the district named, left town at 5 o'clock last, night, and was found dead at 8, lying on the branch road which leads to. his farm. The body was lying at full length and bore marks of violence on the neck, and his vest was considerably lorn. Dr Cahill, who examined the body, says that dentil resulted from hemorrhasro of the jugular vein, but be declines to express an opinion on how the wounds were caused until ho makes a post mortem examination this morning. Two wounds were found in tho neck. Hawkins was a much respected settler. June 2.

A post mortem on the body of Hawkins was conducted yesterday, and is still going on, but the authorities are very reticent as to what has been discovered. To all appearances, however, a most determined and at the same time a most cowardly murder has been committed. From enquiries made on the spot and the nature of the wounds so far ascertained it is evident that the poor fellow was firod at twice, and his life finally extinguished by the blows of a knife. Portions of his vest and coat, which were blown away as by the discharge of « gun, were found on the road some distance from the body, and stones marked with blood are lying about in various places, along with the fragments of cloth, and the remains of Hawkins’ pocket knife broken cp and twisted, as though considerable force had been used. There was a great deal of blood where the body lay, butlittle any where else. yin a gully about 25 yards from tho scene was found a stone, weighing perhaps l|lb, jagged and partly covered with blood. There were no signs of the body having been dragged from where the patches of cloth and knife lay to tho spot where it was found. These discoveries dispose of the possibility of Hawkins having been killed by a simple fall from a trap, and, besides, it is known that he always used to walk up this part of the road, which is very steep and narrow, and dominated by banks on either side. When it woo found that, besides (he wounds in the throat, there was a charge of shot in the shoulcer, the police at once regarded it as a case of murder, and began 10 look for further clues. The theory which an inspection of the locality seems to favour is that the assasdfn waited for his victim on the bank, in a position where he would be very close to anyone toiling up the steep hill. As soon as Hawkins came near he fired one barrel of a shot-gun, but did little more than cat away the portion of clothing found on thoroad. Hawkins, instinctively suspecting with whom be had to deal, turned and ran down tho road for his life, but a second shot better aimed struck him in the shoulder and brought him down before he had gone many yards. This wound was not necessari'y fatal, but the murderer, determined to leave nothing to chance, must then have gone up to the prostrate man and finished his work with a knife or other .sharp weapon. Hawkins was lying on bis face, and from the * position of the hands, would seem to have ' jMt up his arms to ward off the blow of the knife. This is the opinion the police have formed of tliecircumstauees of the tragedy, pnd on it they are working. Dr Cahill

hua given it ns bis opinion that no blood would spurt up from the wounds so made by direct downward force, and consequently tho murderer may have gone .way without a spot on him. Having come to tho conclusion that ifc was a case of deliberate murder, the police turned their attention to the assassin. From the fact that the dead man’s watch was not taken, and that if he bad any money on him it was not a large sum, the cause of the crime is at present believed to be vengeance rather than robbery. Amongst Hawkins’ neighbors is an Italian, who has been heard, so it is alleged, to utter threats against him in consequence of some litigation in which they were engaged. His house was searche i and a bone-handled dagger with a double-edged blade, about six inches in length, was found. A shot flask was also obtained. The dagger, however, bore no signs of bbod, and tho shot in the flask were cot of the same size as those in the body. No clothes were discovered at all blood stained and none had been recently washed, -he demeanour both of tho man and his wife was calm, and not that of guilty people. Inspector Thomson and the detectives were buoy all yesterday and to-day prosecuting their search, but up the present it is not known whether they Have found anything more conclusive. I. may bo mentioned that this is the first murder which has occurred in Wellington since a bank manager named Miller killed his father and mother on Wellington Terrace aod then committed suicide, some nine years ago. Dr Cahill finished hie post mortem late this afternoon, but has declined to give any information till after the inquest, which is fixed for 9 to-morrow morning. In the search at the Italian s house a double-ban elled shot-gun was found, and a double set of tracks leading from his house to the road where the crime was committed were discovered. June 3. At the inquest on the body of IlawKi/is, his wife gave evidence that about two months ago deceased came home much put out because Louis Chemis —a man who worked on the road —had sworn at him, and said he would hayo him yet. There was a lawsuit pending in respect of a fifty-acre section rented from her husband by Chemis. On« witness deposed Hint shots were not likely to be heard, as the wind was blowing away from the nearest houses. Dr Cahill said as soon as he noticed (he slabs be suspected murder, but said nothing until the body was taken to the morgue. There he found a large number of stabs, one of which divided tho jugular vein. The wounds were thick about the neck and shoulders, and appeared to have been made from above and forwards. One cut severed the lower jawbone. On tho trunk there were more than a dozen stabs. In fact, the corpse was slashed all over. There was also a gunshot wound in the lower part of the neck, immediately above the shoulder. One stab penetrated to the heait. All the wounds wore clean cut, and he believed they were produced by a double-edged weapon. They were ail broader at the surface than in the interior of the body, and he believed the instrument must have been sharp, two-edged, tapering and strong, and at least five inches in length. He believed the portions shot off the coat and vest must have been torn away by a bullet fired from above, which passed through the coat and struck a knife, or something haifl, in tho vest pocket. There was a contusion corresponding with where the knife would have been. The shot from behind must have been fired when both were on a level, and not two yards away. Many of the wounds would cause death almost immediately. Inspector Thompson produced a dagger found by the police (without mentioning how it was obtained), and asked Dr Cahill whether the wounds could have been produced fey that weapon. Dr Cahill said “ Yes ; any of the stabs could have been inflicted with it. The inquest was then adjourned for a week. No arrest has yet been mode. Dunedin, June 3. James Bradford, a miner at Wailahuna, who had been missing since May 20ih, mss found last night a short distance from bis place. He had evidently been murdered, and his mate, Robert Weddell, was arrested on suspicion this morning.