The Murder at Howick.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4346, 5 December 1882, Page 3

The Murder at Howick.

(PiE Paess Association.)

Auckland, This day. MISS CROWLEY'S STATEMENT. Mary Crow ley, aged 16, daughter of the Howick murderer, has made the following statement :—Father went to the shelf where his shirt was, and put it on the table. It was clean, but not starched or ironed, and he began fo iron it with a cold iron. .He seemed very quiet when iron-

ing the shirt, and when I came into the

kitchen all he said was that I must not go to Howiek. I went into the front room to^tfr through it to the bedroom to get a necktie. I went for it. He-was Still ironing the shirt, and mother and father were not talking. I went into the kitchen and heard no quarrelling between them, but then heard her ask him why he did not pat on the white ihirt that was ironed. This was a new shirt that had never been worn, and he said "No, I will not put it on." She made no remark then. I heard no more quarrelling, but about ten minutes after that heard blows—more than one. I heard her screaming before I heard the blows, bnt heard no quarrelling or "nagging." She was not scolding him that morning. When he brought in the ' fton he said.to mother " Here's your iron; yon can put it away." But she did not reply. Did not hear either of them speak after that until I heard a scream fire

minutes • after then. From tbe sound could tell he knocked her down. Ran , into the room. Mother was then stretched on the floor near the window, and saw father standing up alongside her with the iron in his hand. Noticed blood

on her face, and when I saw it 1 ran

Saw him strike a blow before I ran. When I ran from the kitchen on bearing the scream, I could see into tbe front room, for tbe'kitcbpn door opened from the front room. Only heard the first blow, for I did not see him knock her down, but she lay with her head towards the bedroom, aDd when I got in he was standing near her head, and I saw

father strike her with the iron on the face. I only saw one blow and then I ran out. She was making no noise at that time, and did not after she screamed. Ran out when. I saw the blow and went to Mr Frater!s, the manager, and told him I believed that father bad killed my mother. He was queer in his manner and wore'his Sunday clothes to work. It was not true she was constantly jawing and " nagging " at father; it was he who was constantly jawing ber. She used to say that be spent his money when he went to Howiek. He vied to answer her back. Used to go to Howiek sometimes but seldom got drunk. He bad no drink lately, and had none that morning. My stepmother used to treat me very well. Father had no reason to complain of her conduct to me. She scolded me sometimes, but on the whole treated me kindly. I have no cause to complain of her treatment.