South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Monday 10 February 1862, page 3


POLICE COURTS.

Adelaide: Saturday February S. [Before Mr. S. Beddome, P.M., J. W. Macdonald, ? S.M.. and Dr. Woodforde.l

Using. Abusive Language.— Phoebe Hanley. Bridget Glynes, and Mary Owley were charged by Catharine Hutchins with using abusive and instating language towards her on various occa

sions during tne week commencing Jb ebruary 3rd. It appeared from the evidence that the complainant had been guilty of the same offence : but as there was no cross-information laid the defendants were fined Is. each. Dog Act.— P. Bruning was charged, on the information of Inspector Durieu, with having in his possession two dogs above the age of three calendar months without having taken the necessary steps to get them registered. The charge was proved, and defendant was ordered to pay a fine of £3 for each dog, and the costs of the Court, in all £7 3s. The Murder at Government House.— Caro-line Seaver was charged, on the information of Inspector Hamilton, with being an accessory to the murder of Inspector B. P. Pettinjrer. The case for the prosecution was conducted by the Crown Solicitor, Mr. Andrews appearing for the prisoner. George Badman, police-constable, stated that he was at the sale at Government House on the 4th February. Saw Inspector Pettinger at Government House alive. The last time he saw him alive was in the ballroom, at about 10 minutes past 4. At 20 minutes past 4 saw him lying dead in tlie pantry. Prisoner and several others were in the room when he saw the deceased the last time. Prisoner was sitting in the front part of the ballroom on a seat facing the Terrace. John Seaver was tluii sitting beside her. Did not notice Inspector Pettinger at that time. Saw the prisoner beckoning to him with her hand. Went to her, aud she said to him, pointing to her husband, ' Take him out, take him put.' Was in uniform at the time. Saw nothing ill his appearance to warrant him in taking him out. Prisoner rose from her seat when she spoke to him. Saw her afterwards pass him and go out of the ballroom. Saw her go through the reception-room, in the direction of the hall. Saw nothing more of her at that time. Noticed a black cloth covering something hang over John Seaver's arm while sitting beside the prisoner. Shortly after the prisoner had gone out the auctioneer came into the ballroom and addressed John Seaver. Seaver left his seat and went out of the room in the direction of the ballroom. Prisoner left the room about two minutes before her husband. Saw the black cloth over Seaver's arm when he went out of the room. Shortly after heard a noise, and almost immediately smelt burnt powder. Passed through the hall and proceeded towards the back of the house. Saw in the lobby a pool of blood, a cloth like a black apron lying in it, and a hat King near. Had never seen the prisoner before that day. Afterwards sawthe dead body of Inspector Pettinger. Noticed a wound on the left side of the head. Did not know the nature or extent of the wound, but saw blood flowing from it. George Hamilton, Acting Commissioner of Police, stated that he was at the sale in Government House on the 4th February. Saw the dead IkmIv of Inspector Pettinger in the pantry. Examined it and found a large wound in the base of the skull, and a portion of the ear taken on'. Considered the wound was sufficient to cause death. Did not see the wound probed. W. H. Selway, general dealer and commission agent, said that on the 4th February he was at the sale at Government House. Knew the ball and supper rooms. About 4 o'clock he was in the supperroom, near the ballroom door. Saw the prisoner standing by the side of the door connecting the ballroom with the supper-room. Lot 197 had just been put up for sale. Prisoner said to witness— 'You can't go through this way; you must go round.' Saw the prisoner with her finger inher mouth apparently looking anxiously into the ballroom. Witness passed through the lobby. Went up stairs and heard a report which he took for that of an air-gun. Saw some ladies running excitedly about in front of the house. Ran down stairs and was told that Inspector Pettinger had been shot. Heard some one screaming, anil thinking it might be the person that was shot, ran through the kitchen and saw the prisoner in the back-yard apparently in hvsterics. Several persons were standing round her, and, to an exclamation of one of them, she said 'Is he dead?' Some one replied 'Yes.' Prisoner then became frightfully agitated, uttered a dreadful scream, and threw herself back into the arms of those who were holding her. Heard some one say, 'Ifs not your husband, my good woman; it's not your husband, hut Inspector Pettinger.' Believed at that time she was perfectly capable of understanding what was said. Never heard such a scream before; it was such a one as he would never forget. Did not see John Seaver~there at that time. Did not see any more of the prisoner, as he left the place to see about the body. By Mr. Andrews— The sale was going on in the ballroom while the prisoner was gazing on with her finger in her mouth. Thos. Hills, cabinetmaker, of Adelaide, stated that he attended the sale held at Government House on the 4th February. Had just come out of the ballroom when he 'heard a ptculiar crash, or noise. The sound might have proceeded from firearms. Was in the reception-room at the time, but hearing the crash went towards the hall. Saw a policetrooperrun in for his sword. Rushed out of the. hall, and, lunning through the kitchen, proceeded to the back entrance to the house. Heard some one screaming, and saw the prisoner sitting in the kitchen. Attracted by the scream, he went to the prisoner, and heard her say, 'He's dead, he's dead ; I know he's dead,' but she did not mention any name. Then went into the lobby, and saw the pool of blood. It was not two minutes after hearing the report that he saw the blood. Saw the black cloth (produced) lying in the blood. The cloth was on fire, and some one put it out while he was standing there. Police-constable Badman then came out, and he (witness) ran to the front door. After speaking to some persons, he ran hack to the kitchen, and saw some men dragging John Seaver into the lobby. Prisoner had l-een by this time taken out to the verandah. Witness went on to the verandah, and saw the prisoner there. Her husband was standing by. Witness said to him, ' My man, i3 this your wife?' Seaver said,' Yes.' Witness said to him, 'Then speak to her, and try to bring her to.'' Prisoner then again said, ' Oh, he's dead; oh. I know he's dead.' Seaver had his hands on her shoulders, trying to pacify her. saying, 'Here I am— I am not hurt ; look at me.' Prisoner had an opportunity to recognise her husband, as her eyes were wide open. Witness then said to Seaver, 'My good man, take hold of her hand, and call her by her Christian name, perhaps that will bring her to,' thinking slip thought it was her husband who was dead. Prisoner again said, 'Oh, he's dead,' turned up her eyes, and looked intently at Seaver for a second or so. She then got off her seat, and witness said to Seaver. ' Walk her up and down on the verandah ; it wiil do her good.' Prisoner and her husband then turned into the kitchen, where they were met by the houseinaidt who conducted them into the scullery. By Mr. Andrews— Lot 197 was knocked down at about 18 minutes after 4. Heard the report just at that time. Lot 197 was sold in the ballroom, as was also Lot 191, to the best of his knowledge. George Badman recalled, stated that the black cloth produced was the one found near the bodv. It was a female's apron. By Mr. Andrews— There are holes in the middle of the apron. The Crown Solicitor charged the prisoner with being the principal in a secondary degree ii the murder of Inspector Pettinger. He observed that a large amount of conclusive evidence had been brought out. He woul-1 particularly call the attention of the Court to the following facts:— Only a few minutes before the murder was committed the prisoner was sitting with her husband, and then starting up exclaimed to a policeconstable, pointing to her husband, 'Take him out, take him out. He was quite aware that this might be construed in two different ways; but it seemed most probable that the whole matter had been prearranged with her husband, and that her heart failed her when the tune of the accomplish

ment of tho plot was so near. It was evident that she had some grounds for making the request, although the constable could not see any grounds to justify him in acceding to her reuue.t. Ue knew that active interference was not incumbent on her, even supposing that she knew|his intention, but if she had been very desirous that lit should be removed she would surely have stated some reason for it. Then the combined evidence of Badman, Selway, and Hills, was very strong. It would appear that she was standing at the ballroom door to prevent persons from passing in and out, probably lest that might have interfered with the commission of the deed. It might also be considered that her object in intently gazing into the ballroom was to see when the coast was clear, and to give notice to her husband. Her very agitated deportment, when seen by Badman seated by her husband, was also calculated to arouse suspicion. It was remarkable, moreover, that the prisoner should so soon have obtained a knowledge of the deed, as one of the witnesses showed that she had exhibited violent emotion almost immediately after the shot was fired and before any particulars could have Iwen communicated to her, and as a proof that that show of feeling was not elicited by fears for her husband's safety, she was not pacified when she knew that he was unhurt. He knew that coverture might be urged as palliation for many of the charges, but he submitted that sufficient had been shown to warrant the Court in granting a committal, or if tliat were refused he would apply for a remand to collect further evidence. Mr. Andrews would not setup any defence in the present unsatisfactory state of the case, and the prisoner, at the instance of her counsel, declined to make any -statement. The prisoner was committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. Bail allowed in two securities of £50 each.