LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 244, 20 July 1872, Page 3

LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS.

(from our ows correspondent.) ■ 0— ■ MYSTERIOUS DEATH AT PAPAKURAi, POLICE COURT NEWS. —CHARGE OF INDECENT AtSAULT.—THE SHAREMARKET. Friday, 8 p.m. John Brown, aft#*. Thomas Herrin, was charged at the Police Court this morning with having indecently assaulted Hannah L. McDongall, aged six years, daught -r of Captain McDongall, of the Enterprise No. 1. The child gave her evidence in a clear and distinct manner. Owing to insufficient evidence, of identity, the case was dismissed. * On Thursday evening, about 7 o’clock, Mrs Gray, wife of Thomas Gray, an , old settler in Papakura, reported to Constable Walker that her husband was deal or d} ing. The constable immediately proceeded to his house and found Gray lying partly on his face in bed, quite dead and cold. On examining the body he found a wound on the face, from which a considerable quantity of blood had flowed, which by appearance had been caused by some sharp instrument. It seems that the deceased and his wife had been quarrelling during the morning. Mrs Gray left the house about 11 o’clock, and went to the PaDakura Hotel where she remained until about 4 in the afternoon, stating to the people in the hotel that she had left the old man bad in bed and had locked the door. From the unsatisfactory manner in which Mrs Gray answered the questions put to her by Constable Walker, he apprehended her on suspicion of being concerned in the old man’s death, and lodged her in the lock up. The constable proceeded to

Auckland on Thursday night to the coroner, and I have no doubt an inquest will be held on Friday. The deceased was about 70 years of age, and bis wife is about 50. I learn from the police authorities that Constable Walker reached Auckland during the early part of this morning, where he reported the whole circumstances to Inspector Broham. By the 6 o’clock coach Detective Jeffrey was despatched to the scene to aid in making the necessary inquiries, and later in the day, Inspector Broham followed on horseback. It is stated that the neighbours of the deceased remarked it as a singular c’ cumstance that lie had not been seen moving about his place during the whole of Thursday. The Sharemarket still unsettled. Caledonian, £25 ; Moanataiari, £5 10s, with upward tendency ; Thames, £6 5s ; Golden Calf, £2 iOs.