John Blair Thompson  
The Star
Christchurch, New Zealand

    Wednesday, 20 Jan 1875
THE MURDER IN LYTTELTON
ADJOURNED INQUEST
  The inquest on the body of Isabella Thompson, which was adjourned from Monday, Jan. 11, was resumed yesterday, at noon, at the Mitre Hotel, Lyttelton, before the Coroner, J. W. S. Coward, Esq.   The interest taken by the outside public did not appear to have abated, the hotel being besieged by a crowd of persons anxious to have a look at the accused.   The police, thinking that such another scene as took place on Monday last might take place, took the precaution of conveying the prisoner to the hotel at an early hour by a circuitous route.
  Shortly after noon the jury when called upon answered to their names.   On this occasion Mr. T. S. Duncan, Crown Prosecutor, conducted the examination of the witnesses.   Mr. Shearman, Commissioner of Police, was also present to watch the case.   Prior to any evidence being taken, the accused (John Mercer) said that he had received a telegram from his counsel (Mr. Joynt) to the effect that he could not attend the examination that day, owing to other engagements in Christchurch.
  The Coroner said that the case must proceed.
  Llewellyn Powell, examined by Mr. Duncan:   I am a legally and duly qualified practitioner residing in Christchurch.   I received from Sergeant-Major O/Grady a coat and pair of trousers and comforter, which the accused is now wearing.   I cannot identify the trousers.   I examined the clothes and found stains of blood on the comforter, and also on the coat, the latter had blood stains on the cuff, on the outside and more especially on the inside.   The inside lining of the cuff of the left sleave was freely stained with blood.   I removed a portion of the lining of the sleeve to complete my examination.   I scraped the inner lining of the left cuff of the coat, the comforter also the trousers, and, with the exception of a small stain on the trousers, I completely identified them as blood.   I afterwards received from Constable Wallace a handkerchief.   The one now produced is the same.   I have examined it, and I find it is stained with blood.   I examined the knife now produced; it has been used in cutting up tobacco.   I did not notice any signs of blood upon the knife.   There was a large quantity of blood upon the coat sleave.
  By Foreman:   I cannot say if it was human blood.
  James Allan, recalled, examined by Mr. Duncan:   I was mate of the schooner Canterbury up to Jan. 11, and then I left her.   I saw the accused on Jan 9.
  He was then in company with a girl named Isabella Thompson.   Accused had then on the same coat as he is now wearing, and he had also a waistcoat similar in colour.   I saw him about 4 o'clock on Jan. 9 (Saturday).   I did not notice that he had any blood upon his clothes.   I saw him again shortly after 5 o'clock, he was then in company with the murdered girl.   I again saw him shortly before 6 o'clock, he was then on the railway platform.   At the latter time I did not take particular notice of the state of his clothes.   He was some distance from me, and got into another carriage.   At this time he was wearing the same clothes he has now on.   It was about 5 o'clock when I saw him with the little girl, this was near the Albion Hotel.   The little girl stopped and looked me full in the face.   I noticed she had a peculiar expression.   The knife shown me I believe I have seen before.   I saw it in the accused possession.   I cannot say on what day I saw it on him.   There were no sheep killed on the schooner Canterbury on Jan. 9, or any day previous.
  By Foreman:   I have seen accused with a knife similar to the one now produced, but I cannot swear that it is the same one.
  By a Juror:   On our journey from Wellington to Westport we had no sheep on board.   The meat supplied to the vessel we bought from the butchers.   We had no poultry on board, and during my stay on the vessel I saw none.
  By another Juror:   The accused joined the schooner Canterbury on Nov. 25.
  John Darcy:   I am cook on board the schooner Cleopatra.   I recollect Saturday, Jan. 9.   I cam on shore with the accused and a man named William Brown.   We went into Mr. Parson's Royal Hotel, at the corner of Norwich Quay.   I had a pint of beer, and the accused had, I believe, at the same time, a bottle of lemonade.   I think this was about 5 o'clock.   I left first, having to go to the butchers.   I cannot say when the accused left.   He was not in the hotel when I returned again.   I next saw him (the accused) on Sunday morning, on board the Cleopatra.   This was between 11 and 12 o'clock in the afternoon.   He was wearing at that time the same clothes and cap that he wore on Saturday, and which he is now wearing.   When he came on board the Cleopatra, he emptied the contents of his clothes bag on the deck, and he afterwards changed his clothes.   On Sunday, shortly after he came on board I noticed some articles of clothing floating near the vessel.   I did not notice the accused throwing over anything.   I was busy in the galley at the time - the knife produced I saw among the prisoner's things when he turned out his bag.
  On Monday morning I found the knife in the coal tub near the galley; the accused was cook on board the Cleopatra.   He had come to take my place.   I gave the knife to Sergeant Maguire.   Detective Feast was present at the time.
  By a Juror:   I am of opinion the clothes I saw floating had been thrown overboard from the Cleopatra.   The tide was not strong enough to have brought any articles of clothing from any other vessel.
  J. T. Rouse, duly qualified medical practitioner, said: I my last examination I stated that I had observed scratches on prisoner's nose and hands.   The scratches were not made by any pointed instrument, but were such as could be made by a person's nails.   On Jan. 11, I went with Sergeant- Major O'Grady to the Morgue, and I there extracted a number of gorse prickles from the deceased.   I took them from the knees and the right arm.   There was a great number on the other arm.   I have examined them with those from the accused and those taken from the place of the murder, under a strong microscope, and I find that they are gorse prickles.   I have also since received a package from Sergeant Major O'Grady, said to be taken from the clothes of the accused, and these are gorse prickles.   I also examined a quantity of the gorse taken from the spot where the girl was found, and they are exactly alike - all being gorse prickles.
  Nathan Percy:   I am a seaman.   I was lately employed on the schooner Canterbury.   I remember Saturday, Jan. 9.   Some time about 3 o'clock on that day I met the accused in Oxford street.   I went up to him and asked him if he was going to Christchurch.   He said, "I want nothing to do with you."   He had previously spoken about going to Christchurch with me.   He then said, "I want to go with some one else; I want to get a girl, and if I don't get her here, I will in Christchurch.   And if I don't get what I want I will cut her weazand or her throat."   The cap and the coat are the same that the accused had on when I saw him on Saturday afternoon.   The knife produced I recognise.   It belongs to the accused.   When the accused was laid up on the passage from Wellington I acted as cook for him, and I used the knife for peeling potatoes.   He asked me what business I had to use his knife for this work, I said I would not hurt the knife.   He demanded the knife, and I returned it to him.   I swear the knife is the same.   John Skeet:   I am a seaman and live in Oxford street, Lyttelton.   On Saturday, Jan. 9. I was in Oxford street in the afternoon, leaning on the railings of Mr. Bunker's property.   I knew the parsonage of the Rev. Pember.   I was leaning on the rails looking up towards the parsonage.   This was about twenty minutes to six.   The train had come in.   The gates of the railway had been opened and closed.
  Whilst I was looking up towards the parsonage I saw a man coming away from that direction.   He was shaking his coat.   At this time he was four or five feet from the corner of the parsonage garden, a few feet from where the body was found.   I watched him.   He came down the cutting, and passed me; he was about four yards distant from me.   He went on to Mr. Kelly's corner, and continued his way towards the station.   The accused is the man.   He is dressed the same as when I saw him.   He was walking in a hurry, and he appeared tipsy.   I took very particular notice of him from the time I saw him come from the parsonage to when he passed me.   He had blood on his right cheek, I did not notice his nose; he appeared to be in a tremour.
  By Foreman:   The place where I was standing was at the end of Mr. Bunker's section, I could see the parsonage grounds from where I stood.
  Robert Russell: I am a carpenter, residing in Christchurch.   I remember Saturday, Jan. 9.   I was in a railway carriage, and going to Christchurch by the 6 p.m. train.   I know the accused.   He came into the same carriage with me.   He had marks of blood on his face, apparently made by scratching.   One was on the nose, the other was under the right eye.   I noticed his hands.   They were covered with blood, and apparently fresh blood.   Accused, when he came into the carriage, said, "You Government should go into the horse-box, and leave room for the public."   I told him he ought to have washed his hands before he spoke.   He remarked that he had been killing a sheep, (Sensation.)   I did not take any notice of his clothes, whether there was blood on them.
  Annie Rouse:   I live with my father and mother at the corner of Ripon and Oxford street.   I recognise the accused.   I saw him between half past five and six o'clock on Saturday, Jan. 9.   I was sitting at the window, which is a large bow one, and saw the accused coming from Ripon street.   He crossed the tramway where the prisoners are at work, and went down Oxford street.   He had the same clothes on as he now has, and the same cap.   He was walking hurriedly.   I know Mr. Bunker's stables, and the slip-rails leading to them.   They are near to my father's house.   By Foreman:   I was sitting at the window when the accused passed by.   The window is a very large bow window.   I was sitting in an arm chair.   There was nothing to impede my view of seeing where the accused came from or which way he went.
  Susannah Toomey:   I am a widow residing in Lyttelton.   I remember the evening of Saturday, Jan. 9.   About a quarter to six o'clock I noticed a man in dark grey clothes coming from near the corner of Mr. Pember's gardens.   He was about the same build and height, and dress as the accused.   The man seemed under the influence of liquor.


  He came from the corner of the garden near to Oxford and Ripon street.   By a Juror:   I was in my own house in Winchester street.   I was standing at the back door.   The place is some distance from my house.   I could not recognise the features of the man.   John Hall:   I am a carpenter, residing in Christchurch, I remember Saturday, Jan. 9.   I was in the six o'clock train along with Robert Russell.   I recognise the accused.   He was in the same carriage with me.   He sat between Russell and myself.   When accused came into the carriage, he said "It is about time some of you Government chaps cleared out and gave the public room."   Russell said to him "Why don't you wash your hands before you speak?"   Accused held up his left hand and said "I have just been and killed a sheep, and that is the reason of the blood on my hands."   His left hand was the most covered in blood.   I noticed blood on his right cheek.   The blood on his right hand was not so much as that on his left.
  Sergeant-Major O'Grady said:   I am stationed in Lyttelton.   I remember Saturday, Jan. 9.   At 6:30 p.m. the body of Isabella Thompson was brought to the station.   I observed that she was then wearing the clothes that I now produce.   They are girl's clothing.   There was a large quantity of gorse in them, and they are also very much torn.   I removed the body to the morgue.   The deceased was undressed, and I took charge of the clothes, and they have been in my charge ever since.   On the morning of Jan. 11, I went on board the schooner Cleopatra, in company with Detective Feast.   When going alongside I noticed the accused come forward from the direction of the cabin to the fore-rigging on the port side, near to where the ladder was placed.   When I got on board, I noticed that the accused changed colour very much, and I thought he recognised me.   I asked him his name - he told me it was Mercer.   Detective Feast then came up from the boat on to the vessels's.   I asked the accused what portion of the vessel he lived in - he said, "The cabin."   Detective Feast and myself asked him into the cabin.   I said, "Where are your clothes?"   Accused at the time was in his shirt sleeves.   He had no coat on.   Detective Feast said, "We want the clothes you wore on Saturday last."   Accused went into a spare room on the port side of the cabin, and took out a long bag full of clothes.   I took the bag from him, and commenced to take out the contents.   Some short distance down the bag I found the trousers which the accused is now wearing.   I put the trousers on the table.   The other articles I put on one side.   I noticed stains of blood on his trousers.   Detective Feast examined the trousers.   Nearly at the bottom of the bag I found the coat, scarf, and handkerchief, now produced, also the cap and coat which the accused is now wearing.
  With Detective Feast I took charge of the accused's boots and socks which he was then wearing.   I observed gorse prickles in both of them.   There was blood on the scarf and a great quantity of blood was on the inner part of the left cuff of the coat.   There was some outside the cuff.   I heard the accused tell Detective Feast he had no knife.   When asked by the detective, how he cut up his tobacco, he replied that he did it with the galley knife.   detective Feast said, "You are not always in the galley."   Accused replied, when he did not use the galley knife he broke it up with his fingers.   In reply to a question about the scratch on his nose, accused said he got it on board the schooner Canterbury.   In reply to a question about the blood on his clothes, he said he got that from killing sheep in Wellington.   I told accused he must come on shore.   I brought him up to the station, and took him into my office.   I told him to undress.   When stripped, I called the detective's attention to a number of prickles on accused legs.   Accused said they were not prickles, and said it would take me all my time to get any prickles out of his flesh.   I then sent for Dr, Rouse, and assisted him in extracting a number of gorse prickles from the thighs, knees, hands and fingers of the accused.   Dr. Rouse took charge of the prickles which were extracted.   I gave Dr. Rouse some prickles taken from the clothes of the accused.   I also assisted in taking some gorse prickles from the deceased Isabella Thompson's legs.   I produce a portion of the hair which I took from the deceased.   It is covered with gorse   The remainder of the hair was in a similar state.   I noticed a large number of gorse prickles on deceased legs which were not extracted.   I produce some tobacco and a pipe which was found by the detectives on the accused.   The tobacco shows signs of being cut with a knife.   Yesterday, in company with Detective Feast, I measured the distance from the Albion Hotel, Canterbury street, to Ripon street; it is seventeen chains.   From the corner of Ripon and Canterbury streets to the scene of the murder is five chains.   From the scene of the murder to Miss Rouse's home is four chains.   The distance from where I first saw the accused on board the Cleopatra to the coal tub is six feet seven inches.
  The Coroner said this was all the evidence the Crown had to lay before the jury.   If they wished he would read over the evidence given at the previous inquiry.
  The Foreman said he would like to hear the evidence of the witnesses James Allan and Captain Russell read.
  The Coroner read the evidence of these two witnesses.
  In reply to the Coroner, accused said he had been advised by his Counsel to say nothing on the matter.


  The room was then cleared, and after a few minutes delay was again opened, when the Foreman stated that the jury had returned a verdict of "Willful Murder" against the accused John Mercer, and they considered the police were deserving of the highest commendation, for the manner in which they had worked up the   information which had been laid before the jury.   The verdict was soon known outside, and a large crowd assembled, every one wishing to obtain a view of Mercer.   The police thinking that there might be a similar scene to that which took place on Monday, obtained the assistance of three wardens, and with those and the whole of police force, the accused, handcuffed, was taken up to gaol.   He will be brought before the Resident Magistrate in a few days.