THE MURDER IN SEWELL STREET.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 763, 14 January 1871, Page 2

THE MURDER IN SEWELL STREET.

CORONER'S INQUEST. (Abridged from the West Coast Times). An inquest was held at Hokitika on Monday last, before Dr. Garland, Coroner, on view of tho body of Mary Jane Molaumby, who was so brutally murdered on Saturday night last, in Sewell-street. The first witness called was— Alice Molaumby, who deposed: I am the mother of the little girl. I last saw her alive about nine o'clock oc Saturday night. I and my husband went out—bolting the back door —and my husband the front door, out of which we went. I returned about half-past nine o'clock with a friend of mine. I found the door was open. I looked for the child, Mary Jane Molaumby, and found her missing. My friend struck a light, and the first thing I saw was some blood on the bed. My triend tjld me that perhaps the girl's nose was bleeding. 1 then tracked the blood into the kitchen. I then went outside, and searched for my child ; called on her, and looked in the fowl house but could not find her, and then screamed out. I then went to the far off corner of the fence, and then saw something white. I screamed out, took the child in my arms, and brought it into the house. I still thought its nose had been bleeding till 1 sat down on the sofa, when J. saw the throat was cut. 1 have not seen the prisoner before. My husband locked the back door when he went out. My friends' names were Patrick Keene and Mary Hartly. A person left some flowers about 7 o'clock in the evening, and said she would call again tor them. 1 put them on the table, but when 1 came back I found they had gone. 1 do not know if the person who left them took them away. I have been in the habit of leaving the children alone.

By the Coroner : There was another ch.ld sleeping with the deceased. _ She said she knew nothing about the matter. The child is about five years ot age. All the bed-clothes Wi re torn off the bed. The windows could be opened from the outside. When I found the child she was lying straight out.

Thomas Molaumby, the father of the deceased, was next sworn, and corroborated the previous witness. Cross-examined by the Police: I left the window blinds down. There was no light burning. I never saw the tomahawk before 1 saw it on Sunday morning.

By the jury: The windows could be opened from the outside. The bliuds were down. The Coroner here drew the attention of the jury to the fact that there wus blood between the handle and the eve of the axe. Also that it was what is termed a left-handed axe. William Henry James, sworn, deposed : I am inspector of police stationed at Hokitika. On Saturday liighr, about 12 p.m., a spot was pointed out to me by Mrs Molaucnby near her garden fence. The spot was siid to be where Mrs Molaumby found her daughter. I found a piece of Hesh in the blood, and within a taw inches found a jewel-case some rushes. 1 was present when prisoner was arrested. On searching bis bed I found the keys producec', just under the blanket. On trying one of the keys to the front door of Mrs Molaumby's house, I found it _ would lock and unlock the front door quite easily. Prisoner admitted the keys were his. I also found a bunch of small keys. The keys when I found them were lied together with a piece of string. The keys were between the blankets. 1 examined the lock of Mr Molaumby's house, and endeavored to force it. but was unable to do so. I examined the place minutely. I knew the prisoner about two years ago. lie was then in gaol on a charge. Having heard prisoner was a bush carpenter and worked lelt-liandcd, 1 was induced to arrest him. Ho was not in bed when 1 arrested him. He was dressed all but his coat. Apparently the bed had been slept m. 1 was present when the clothes were found— the trousers were on a cask in the room, and were ijuice wet. There were several tubs of water about. Also, some dirty water, but none having the appearance of blood in it.

I diaries O'Doi neli, Sergeant-Mnjor of Police at liokiiika, said: Uu Sunllay morning, at a quarter past eight {> clock, I went with Detective Browne and Detective James to the Butchers' Arms Hotel. 1 went through the hole] into the yard. I saw Detective Browne speaking to the prisoner. J lie liiieelive asked him if he had all his tools. lie sa'd he had all but an axe, which he had lout to Mary. He said he would yet it, and started off in an excited manner. I stopped him. 1 went into the hotel for a lew

minutes and came out again. I showed him the axe. I asked him if it was his, and he said it was. I then arrested him on a charge of wiiful murder. He made some exclamation such as''Oh God." I saw the detective find the garments produced. 1 found a pair of sucks. On the instep of one there was a small spot of blood. They were very wet and impregnated with suid, as though they had bee 1 worn without boots. I took possession of a piece of wood, which was pointed out to me as having formed part of the wedge which was in the axe. There we're two washtubs in the place, one of which contained soiled water—a sewer 100 ed as though water had recently been thrown down it. I saw prisoner stripped. The house contained a large quantity of old clothes.

John Little, sworn, deposed : I res'de in Sewell-street, next door to Mr Molaumby. I was at hntne on Saturday night last. About 10 o'clock I saw prisoner opposite my door. He was on the footpath. He bade me good evening. It was about three yards from where the tomahawk was found that I saw him. I took especial notice of the coat. It was a large paget coat. I could see distinctly as'it was moonlight. It was about an hour after Molaumby left hia house that I met the prisoner. 1 went down to Mr Macnamara's house and staid there some time. I was only in my own house about five minutes. I do not know if prisoner had boots on, but I certainly did not hear his footsteps. Prisoner was walking carelessly along. A person's footsteps can be heard some distance away from my house. The trousers prisoner had ;on were dark. I am positive they not so bright as those he now has on. Henry Smith, sworn, said: I reside between Park and Tudor-streets. I left my own house about 8 o'clock and returned about 10 o'clock. I found my door broken open. I missed a meerschaum-pipe from my coat pocket. It was a short pipe, a little colored. Some of the gilt was off the case. The pipe produced is the one stolen. 1 also missed a little case in which my wife kept her ear-rings. I identify the case produced. I authorised no one to take the articles. There was a smad cut in the case. I saw prisoner near my house about half-past (5 or a quarter to 7 o'clock the same night. He was showing Mr Buxton something about a section.

Tnis closed the evidence, and the jury having retired for about ten minutes, returned a verdict of wilful murder against Anthony Noble.