The Hokitika Wife Murder Case.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3681, 12 October 1880, Page 2

The Hokitika Wife Murder Case.

TRIAL OF HUTCHINSON.

(Pee PfiEss Association.)

Hokitika, This day.

David Hutcbinson has been committed for trial* for the murder of his wife, Margaret, and his infant son Patrick. The principal witness was the prisoner's mate, named Eeardon, who deposed as follows :--I lived on Turner Plat. I returned home about 11.30 on the night of 20th September, and when I came within 30 yards of my own place I heard a woman shriek, and a kind of choking sound followed. I listened, and heard some noise from Hutchinson's place, and again listened a while, and as the noise appeared to quiet I walked towards my own place. When I got there I heard a noise again as if there was a scrambling on boards at Hutchinson's. I listened for a bit and everything was quiet again, so I went inside and lit a candle and saw it was about twenty-five minutes to twelve. Soon after that I heard a noise as if furniture was being shifted, and went to my window, and heard Mrs Hutchinson say, " Davy, Davy, what are you going to do." I heard again som9 noise as of a scuffle, and then there was quietness. The scuffle continued about a minute or so. I then saw a light in Hutchinson's house, but did not go out for the purpose of reconnoitering when I saw the light. I went into my bedroom, and when there thought I heard Hutchinson's baby crying. I went to my back window facing the track, and thought I heard a noise of thuds'again. The noise ceased quickly, and I went to bed. I thought prisoner was beating his wife. I lived near Hutchinson's for three or four months, and have frequently heard disputes and quarrels between the prisoner and deceased. I thought something strange was going on. I thought at the time the woman's life must have been in danger, but did not care about interfering, though afterwards I was sorry I did not go. I was aroused next morning between two and three a.m. by Mary and Johnny Hutchinson. They sang out that their house was on fire, and mother and baby inside. I got up and went out. The door was open and the kitchen was in flames. I saw the prisoner and the children; the latter were standing some distance away, while the prisoner was moving back some things from the fire. The prisoner was crying. I asked him where the missus was. He said she was inside. I gat an axe and went, to the bedroom window when he said she was not there. On looking through the bedroom window I could see no fire, but there might have been smoke. I think the door between the bedroom and kitchen was closed. The prisoner told me he took his wife by the leg to arouse her, but the heat was too strong. He remarked that he might have saved the baby but for Mary singing out that Maggie was inside. I saw he had saved some blankets and asked him how he got them out, as I knew theae things had been in the kitchen, and prisoner had on his hat, shirt, boots, trousers and vest when I saw him. In the morning about seven o'clock remains of the body were found lying alongside the stretcher. I saw nothing of the remains of the infant at that time. There was a heap of charred bones near the middle of the room. Further evidence was given by this witness which went to show that prisoner and his wife had quarrels previously. About a dozen other witnesses were examined, the evidence being purely circumstantial. It was shown that accused Mad saved several articles from the room in which his wife and child were consumed. The prisoner offered no defence, but by the direction of his solicitor said, "I am innocent of the cbarg«."