Unprovoked murder.
--On Saturday last.
Coroner R. D. Sanxay, assisted by Deputy
Constable Ragland, proceeded to hold an inquest over the remains of a man named
Charles Cook, represented to be a member of
Caskie's Rangers, whose dead body was found at he house of
Mrs. Elizabeth Hubbard on Cary street, opposite the
Columbian Hotel.
The deceased presented a sickening sight, the top of his head having been blown off by a heavy ball, and his brains and blood lying scattered promiscuously around.
A jury of inquest having been impaneled, witnesses were sworn, and an inquiry instituted into the circumstances attending the death of the unfortunate man. The inmates of
Mrs. Hubbard's residence, including herself, testified that the deceased came there on Friday night, and was, at 11 o'clock, sitting in the public parlor conversing with some of the inmates in an affable manner, when a man named
Maguire entered the room unannounced, and seeing
Cook, hastily advanced towards him, exclaiming ‘"What is this you have been saying about met"’ and without giving him the benefit of a word of explanation.
deliberately presented a heavy holster pistol at his victim's head, and the ball fulfilling its bloody mission, the brains of
Cook were scattered, and he fell a corpse on the floor.
In the confusion incident to a deed of such an appalling nature, the murderer made good his escape.
It is conjectured that there had been a previous misunderstanding between the parties, but of its precise nature but little could be gleaned.
Maguire, who was known t be stopping at a house on Broad street was sought after on Saturday ineffectually, but no doubt will be caught and brought to justice.
The motives that induced the murder, so far as could be ascertained from the testimony of the witnesses, was malice and a desire on the part of
Maguire to avenge himself for some supposed insult.
This is the first deed of blood we have had to record for some weeks.
The Coroner's jury were adjourned after hearing all the evidence available on Saturday, and after procuring additional testimony will, no doubt, record their decision to- day.
