From Western Post 3 August 1861: SUPPOSED MURDER ON THE MEROO On Thursday, the 1st instant, Dr KING, the coroner, held an inquest at Cox's Flat, in the district of Mudgee, on the body of a man of the name of Frederick SCHOFIELD lying dead there. Corporal EWING deposed from information he received he proceeded to Cox's Flat, where he found the body of deceased lying in a hut near the tent of a man named KELLY. There was a wound upon the left side of the head, and a quantity of blood on the ground. Blood had likewise trickled out of the right eye. From further informant he received he arrested James KELLY; a man of the name of AMBLER gave him a tomahawk covered in blood. Michael EGAN said prisoner's wife came to his tent after sunrise, and said she thought SCHOFIELD was dead; KELLY came shortly after and said that he would give himself up, for he expected he had killed SCHOFIELD. He remained in the tent until the police came; he would not answer any question, and appeared like a man who was wild. Ann EGAN deposed that prisoner's wife came running to the tent crying "EGAN, EGAN, myself and children have run for our lives; I expect he has killed poor SCHOFIELD; watch him, I expect he will come up. Open the door he has got no arms." She (Mrs EGAN) did so; KELLY came in soon after and fell upon the floor, saying that his wife and children were gone to destruction. SCHOFIELD was staying in KELLY's hut. She went out and saw him lying on the road bleeding from a wound over the ear. Joseph AMBLE, was partner with deceased; they were miners working on the Meroo; SCHOFIELD was sleeping at KELLY's in consequence of prisoner being ill; he asked him on Sunday when he would be down; he said as soon as KELLY was better; he came there in consequence of having been told SCHOFIELD was murdered. Edmund KELLY, son of prisoner, saw his father running after SCHOFIELD; he got so frightened he ran away; when he went back SCHOFIELD was dead. Mr Wilson RAMSAY testified that death was caused by the wound which had fractured the skull and compressed the brain. This being the whole of the evidence, the jury found a verdict. That the deceased came to his death by the blow of a tomahawk. By whom the blow was inflicted is not known; and that KELLY was of unsound mind and not fit to be at large. When the inquest was ended, Captain BROWN ordered the police to take KELLY into custody. WINDEYER From our Correspondent Distressing Affair - One of the most distressing affairs ever recorded was witnessed in the family of a shepherd on Stoney Creek, about four miles from town. It appears the man is shepherding for Mr LUCKIE, at Avisford; his wife, who was a little out of her mind, had strayed into the bush; the man not finding her, reported the circumstance to the police here, and serjeant EWAN and a Mr JACKSON immediately went in search; they cooeed and she answered faintly at a distance; on coming up with her they found her crouched under a gum tree and nearly naked; she was perfectly helpless, and was obliged to be carried to a place of refuge. On arriving at the man's tent poverty and distress met their eyes; three or four children were found nearly naked, the man was equally badly off, having only a coat and trousers, and no shirt. While out shepherding, he carried an infant in his bosom for the purpose of keeping it warm; one of the children who was stopping in the tent, caught fire! with what little clothing it had on - it was only a pinafore, but the little fellow had the presence of mind to put it out. In addition to this no food was in the tent. The serjeant, after witnessing the distress, immediately started to town, and reported the state of things, when the inhabitants of Windeyer, in their usual benevolent way contributed in finding food and raiment for the poor family; the woman, I am happy to say, is getting much better, and the man and family are now pretty comfortable. It is only strange that the man, when he found the miserable state his family was in, did not crave some assistance from his employer, Mr LUCKIE, who was only two miles from where the man lived. I have heard of many distressing circumstances, but never did I hear of a case to equal this. July 30th. ***END*** N.B. All care has been taken to transcribe the above accurately, however errors may have been inadvertently made. Spelling of names/places should be as appears in original. Transcribed from microfilm available from the State Library. Annette Piper Coolah NSW