FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4526, 7 July 1883, Page 2

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Lateb—This daj\

A portion of deceased's brain and scalp were found twenty yards away from where the bodies were discovered, and this morning one of the male deceased's fingers was picked up in Maitland street. It is said that Stevenson procured the dynamite from a mine at Hindon, and that he had expressed his intention of taking it to a quarry at Anderson's Bay. An inquest will be held to night. The explosion was plainly heard at (be north end of the city. Stevenson's grievance was principally that be was denied access to his children, and that a protection order was granted in his absence, whilst every obstacle was put in the way of getting it reversed. No doubt brooding orer these things drove him to despert-

tion, as when talking of his trouble he spoke and acted like a madman. Latest.

Further particulars concerning the murder and suicide show that Stephenson had been threatening his wife with violence for some time, saying that one or both of them would die that night; he had followed her home, aud overtaking her on the footpath he grasped her by the breast, and then tired off a dynamite cartridge, holding it in his right hand and point* ing at her head; she screamed oat when he caught hold of her, but no one was close enomfch to render assistance; the effect of the explosion was to blow their heads almost entirely away. He had evidently premeditated murder, and it is presumed his own death also, as he must have been acquainted with the properties of dynamite. Iu > his pocket afterwards was found a cartridge similar to the one with which it is conjectured he did the deed; it had a match-head inserted at one end, and was tied by a piece of thread to a fuse, with the matchhead outwards. He evidently struck the match, and then waved the cartridge in-the" air after the fuse caught to make it bum 1 brisker. This was the blue light seen by the CarnilK On him also was found a letter drawn out to the Minister of Justice asking that a separation order obtained by lii* wife should be set aside. He had been drinking from time to time for the last two or three years, and recently has been several time? before the Police Court for drunkenness. During yesterday he had attempted to get his children away from his wife's control, having taken one of them away from school, but the little one escaped from him

Veby Latest.

Miss Marton Corfield, the head mil* hder at Saunders, Mcßeath and Co. states that yesterday evening she and the deceased wife left that establishment together at 6.5; and, in Prince* street they were overtaken by Stephenson, who went to his wife's side, and spoke about the children; .he complained to her of being refused to see the children, and was very agitated. Mrs Stephenson did not speak to her husband. Miss Corfield left them at the corner of Melville street. It is supposed that he held her by the neck whilst holding the cartridge with his left hand. He declared yesterday that he would make New Zealand ring with his wrongs. Is is known that he addressed the Government on the hardships inflicted by the Married Women's Property Act, and hoped this session to see it amended in the direction, of granting re hearings, and relative to the custody »f children.

. Mrs Stephen son's father stated that Mary Stepbenson was his daughter^jind was 33 years of age. She was married by Dr Stuart to Timotdy Stephenson ten yean ago. There were three children by the marriage, one of whom is dead. Stephenson went to Tturanga four years ago to buy land, and he said if he came back broke he would cv tall their throats He subsequently returned, and kept troubling his .wife for money, and she gave him upwards of £30 to keep him quiet; he visited their house on Thursday and wished to have a conversa ion with his wife, who said she would have nothing to do with him; he - went away and Mr Stenhousehad not seen . him since that time. Stephenson had never previously shown any disposition to act in the terrible way he did. When Mrs Stephenson left home on the day of the tragedy, she had nothing but her husband's conduct to trouble her. The occurrence took place about 80 yards from the wife's residence.

(FBOM OUB OWN COBBEBPONDENT.) This day.

Stepbenson, of the dynamite tragedy in Duoedin, was almost a nativo of the Colony. In the early days his father watt i a schoolmaster at the Hutt, and Stephen* son jnr. was for some time in the employ of the Bank of New South Wales at Cromweil, Otago; he left the Bank when the rush .to Carrick Kange took place; I think io 1870, he hai a claim there called' tha Caledonian, about half way up the hill, on the road leading to the Heart of. Oak, and other claims. Forming the Caledonian into a company, or selling out; I forget which, he went north to Tauranga, and engaged in some land speculation at Maketu, having for his "agent J. C. Young. I forget the name of the block, but it was one that the Yercoes had long been trying to acquire. ; Failing to do any good in the land, which was pro* claimed by Mr Sheehan, he petitioned Parliament for compensation, and received under the Bryce regime, an award of £2CO He stayed some time in Auckland after receiving his award, but appears to have drifted into the ranks of broken men before the end came. He will be well remembered at Tauranga. < /