THE SHOOTING OF A CHRISTMAS WAIT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1908, 16 March 1887, Page 2

THE SHOOTING OF A CHRISTMAS WAIT.

Jimea John Gardiner was indicted on January 13, (or the nrunfilaoghter of Robert Janne way. — Mr Kibton prosecuted •nd the accused was defended by Air L c wla Ooward. — This melancholy snVr ocourred under vory peculiar circumstances The prisoner is the landlord of the Rising Sun, Larkhall Lane ; and it appeared that early on Chrlainns morning the deceased and several other men were playing a drum, a flats, B"da clarionet at the back of his prem'ses, when the_priaioner threw up a window and discharged a revolver with the idea of frightening the " waits" away ; but by the shct he unfortunately felled the deceased. The unhappy act w.b quite unintentional ; the parties were tre>-p isser.«, and the aceosed had no reason to believe that ho would hurt anyone when be diecharged the weapon. The coroner's jury roturned a verdiot of death by miasa-iventne, and prisoner had always expressed his deep sorrow at what had ocourred. — Mr Coward, on behalf of the defence argued that the evidence showed clearly that the prisoner had not the slightest ide* that tho deceased and his companions had forced their way into hU back yard, bat at the time he fired he had every reason to believe that they were m the street ; and further that >•© had n>t been guilty of any cup»bta • egligenoe, and was suf ficlantlj puni.hed by the sorrow ha felt at the sad occu: ranee. — The jury at once retwasdftwdlat of "Not guilty," j