THE DOBSON MURDER CASE.

West Coast Times, Issue 380, 11 December 1866, Page 2

THE DOBSON MURDER CASE.

TRIAL OF WILSON ALIAS MURRAY.

(CONTINUED.)

Theodore Strehz, being called and sworn, deposed — I am a leg-illy qualified, medical practioner, residing and practising at Greymouth. Iv conjunction with Dr. Foppoly, I made a post mortem examination on the body of George Dobson, at the Hospital, Grey-

mouth. On the 7th day of July, 1866, we found the body on a stretcher, covorod with black earlh. After removing tho soil, we found tho fleshy parts of tho face entiroly destroyed, extending from the region of the eyebrows to tho chin, uoarly from car to ear," in a circular form. Tho margin of the remain* ing ilesliy parts were indented, which ive presumed to bo caused by rats. Wo proceeded to take tho hair off the head, and we then discovered three large bruises — one at the baok part of tho head, a little towards the right ; another on tho front, or forehead, a little towards tho loft ; and tho third immediately under the second one, extending over tho external flap of the loft ear. These bruises must have been caused by a blunt instrument. On removing the scalp, we found on the corresponding places on the skull, extravasation of blood. The point of the tongue was wanting, and the rest indented, apparently the work of rats. The inusclc3 of the neck, extending from tho right to tho left jugular vein, were considerably swollen, the larynx depressed and the chin dejected. On the left side of the region of the jugular vein was an eccliymosis, -where tho blood hud collected and made a black mark about the size of a shilling, and at the back ,part of the neck there was another ecchyraosis about tho size of half-a-crown. These marks of violence were sufficient to extinguish life. The blows on the head were sufficient to produce insensibility; they presented the appearance of having been inflicted by a very round and smooth instrument, whilst the aspect of the neck showed tlnit death had been caused by pressure on the larynx producing asphyxia or suffocation ; on dissecting the body we found the contents of the chest as well as of the abdomen iv a normal state, with the exception of the putrefaction which had set in ; the lumps were al-o slightly congested, and the vessels of the brain distended ; the mark on the jugular vein might have been caused by a thumb or hand, but the person inflicting the mark mxist have used the left hand. It was not possible for the deceased to have inflicted the wounds himself.

Tho counsel for prisoner declined to crossexamine tho witness.

Caroline Fellows was then called, and being swovn, deposed — I am proprietress of the Criterion Hotel, Greymouth.. I know the prisonor at the bar ; he came to my hotel on Thursday or Friday, in the month of May, 1866. My son can tell the exact date. I ■was at houio when prisoner came to the hotel, he had no swag. The prisoner stopped at my houso more than a week. The week folfowing his arrival I noticed a swag under his bed. It must have been brought by the prisoner, as no one else slept in bis room. I recollect the timo of the murder of tho decoasod Georgo Dobson. I remember the prisoner washing his trousers. Ho put them 011 the line. The prisoner usually rose at an early hour — sometimes between five and six o'clock. I don't think it was light before seven o'clock. On the Friday evening after the death of Mr Dobson ho was sitting in our dining room. Prisoner said that ho was not particular about getting up early the next moruiug, as he had risen at an early hour on every other morning during the week. On the Wednesday preceding the Friday the prisoner stood at the bar door aud appeared very much confused. He said, " Mrs Fellows, where' s tho polico camp ? I said it was right opposite, and he then wont from the door. The reason prisoner assigned for his early rising was that he sold newspapers. I have lived at Greymouth about eleven months. Prisoner said that the newspaper he sold was the " Grey River Argus." I took that paper, but it was never delivered .by prisoner. It was usually delivered between seven aud eight o'clock a.m., but never before that hour. Ido not know a man named Sullivjin, nor do I ever remember his having called while prisoner was iv my house. The counsel for tho prisoner' declined to cross-examine the witness. Edward Fellows, being called and sworn, deposed — I am a son of the last witness. I know tho prisoner at the bar, and havo froquenlly seen him. I remember the month of May List. The prisoner came to our house on the 25th or 26th May. We both stayed in the one room, and I slept in the bunk above him. Sometimes ho rose very early — about half-past six, at break of clay. On the Wednesday and Thursdaysucceeding his arrival he rose about half-past six o'clock in the morning. On tho Friday morning ho did not rise very early. I observed the prisoner's boots on Saturday, tho 26th May, at about half-past live, and on the Tuesday following (the 29th). They were very light elastic side women's boots. When 1 observed them on tho Tuesday evening they were wet, as were also his sacks. A man called for prisoner on the Wednesday or Thursday following his arrival at our house, Prisoner was at his tea. I believe the wilnoss Sullivan, whom I now see, to be the man that called for him. I cannot say whether prisoner had any swag when he first came to our house. Afterwards I noticed two swags. On was a red swag, anJ the other a blue. They were at the* bottom, ami under his bed.

Cross-examined by Mr Button — On the mornings of the 28th and 29th May I -was not at home.

Priscilla Fellows, being called and sworn, deposed — I am daughter of Mr 3 Fellows, who formerly kept the Criterion Hotel, at Greymouth. I know the prisoner at the bar. I recollect the time ho \va6 staying at my mother's house. I recollect having seen two swags under the bed in which prisoncr<slept. I never made any remark or grumbled to any person about the prisoner having a late breakfast, or about his getting up late. I only remember tho prisoner being to breakfast one morning, which was on a Sunday. « Cross-examined by Mr. Button. — I do not remember my brother being takeu ill in May last, during tho absence of my elder brother. In the month of May none of tho family had "colds." I know what paregoric is. It is taken for colds. I do not recollect liaving taken my little brother out of bed and ettid, "Nd»', Johnny, come and take your paregoric." Johnny has had paregoric- to take, but I cannot say -when. It was for a cold. Whenovcr we required any we purchased it at Williams' the chemist, Groymoutli. He-examined by Mr South. — I do not remember when we bought any, but wo used to have it in the houso. Ido not rocollect the prisoner ovor having seen me giving my little brother paregoric.

By the Court. — When prisoner stayed at our house, my little brother slept with my other brother in the bunk over the prisoner. I never recollect liaving seen the witness Sulliran at our house during the time the prisoner was there.

Benjamin Barnard, being 1 sworn, deposed — I now reside at the Buller, but in the month of May last I was landlord of the Provincial Hotel, Greymouth. I remember Burgess, Kelly, and Sullivan lodging at my house in that" month. They rose from their bedß sometimes at six o'clock, and sometimes at seven o'clock in the morning. There- wcro times that they got up at the break of day. I do not remember Monday, the 28th May. Nothing particular that I know of occurred on that day. I do now recollect having hoard that George Dobson had been murdered on that day. Kelly was at my houso six or eight days before the 28th. May. Sullivan and Burgess were in my house about two days. Mr South — You give one a great doal of trouble. You seem to want everything dragged out of you. Witness— No, I don't.

Mr South — I am glad to hear it.

Examination continued — Tho three of them left on the Saturday succeeding the 28th May. I think I saw tho prisoner at the bar on one occasion with those three men. I remember having seen a long-huhdloci shovel with them. I think Kelly used to take it as ho said ho had a claim on tho North Beach. I think the prisonor at thd bar had a drink with them one night at my house in the little parlor. I do not remember

Burgess boine; unable to put his boots on, but I recollect his making some observation about his hcol bomg sore. Burgess remained at homo one day to receive Levy. I think this was on Monday, the 28th. I believe Kolly and Sullivan wereout on that day. I do notrecolloct the timo Kelly and Sullivan loft. On the Saturday before the Monday I recollect Kelly saying that ho was going to Cobden ; ho loft that day, and returned either on that or tho following night. When he returned, his eye was cut. It was a nasty cut. Either Burgess or Sullivan proposed to suck his eye, to prevent it from getting black*. Ou the day that Burgess stayed at homo he played cards with Mrs Barnard j he was the only one of that party who remained in my houso that day. I don't remember Sullivan being at my house when half a sovereign was on the table. Ido not remember Sullivan asking Mrs Barnard how was Tommy's eye ? I do not remember Burgess telling Sullivan that he had not been out all day ; but I will not undertake to swear that Sullivan was not in my houso on that evening.

Mr South — Do you not remember that Burgess, Sullivan, your wife and self, wore all present in one loom, on a particular night. Mr Button — I object to this question, a» it is putting the words in tho mouth of tho witness ; my learned friend might ask " what persons were present." The question was allowed.

Witness — 'I do noU

Cross-examined by Mr Button — I did not hear, on the 28th May, 1866, that Dobson was murdered. I have nothing to mark the 28th, and I cannot swear that the events I have detailed actually transpired on that day. Ido not remember Burgess coming in late one day and some cold pudding being got for him. Btirgpss has played cards in my house two or three times ; he did play cards one morning. His Worship — Do you recollect Burgess playing more than once in the day time ? Witness — He played several times, sometimes in the evening. His Worship — Did ho play cards more than on one occasion in the day time ?

Mi* Button — Perhaps your Worship will allow me to finish tho cross-examination of tho witness. His Worship — Oh ! ve-vy well. Cros3 - examination continued — Burgess played cards on Beveral occasions.

Ro-examined by Mr South — I sometimes washed up the breakfast things. Mr South — Will you swear that you did not stay up some nights playing cards, and then get up late in the morning ? Witness — I will. Mr South — Be careful, for" I intend to call other evidence.

Witness — I do not care,

Re-examination continued — I do not know whether the day Kelly returned with the black eye was tho Saturday prorious to tho 28th of May or the Saturday after. Mr South here put a leading question, to which Mr Button objected. An argument then ensued, when Mr South referred to tho prevarication of tho witness, and tho hostility manifested by him to the Crown. Ho also alluded to the connection of the witness with the " notorious gang." Mr Button replied, 'stating that ho thought tho imputations niost unfair. Merely because these men happoned to lodge at tho house of the witness, was that any roason that ho should be pronounced a hostile witness ? Mr South implied, aud his Worship permitted the question to be put. Re-examination continued — For three or four days nuuiiug, Burgess, Kelly, and Sullivau bud dinner at my place, [This witness evidently answered the questions with great reluctance, and his Worship had occasion to speak to him somewhat sharply.] , Mr South here stated lie had one witness whom he was desirous to call, but that he was not in town. He would therefore request tho remand of the prisoner till Wednesday next. The prisouer wa3 accordingly remanded.