THE WAIHI INQUEST. : c

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1623, 14 December 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI INQUEST. : c

DECEASED'S INJURIES. EVIDENCE ABOUT A EEVOLVER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Waihi, December 13. The inquiry into .the. circumstances in connection with the death of E. G. Evans, as tho result of injuries received on the occasion of the disturbance at the Waihi Miners' Union Hall on November 12 was resumed to-day, Mr. Luiidon appeared for tho relatives of deceased, and Mr. Selwyn Mays on behalf of the Crown. A number of witnesses were recalled and cross-examined by Mr. Lundon.. Herbert Michael Kennedy said that he had been interviewed by Commissioner Cullen on the afternoon of November 11. On that occasion the Commissioner asked what was the attitude to be adopted by the union in regard to picketing, and suggested that owing to the disturbance that had taken place that morning pickets should be withdrawn. This was agreed to.. Tho withdrawal of pickets from tho union point of view was to eliminate any possibility of further trouble. Walter Edmund Harvey under oross-ex-amination, denied having a revolver in his possession at Karangahake on November 10, and at Waihi on November 12. Ernest Canham (president of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union). deposed to having attended the post-mortem examination of the body of Evans by Drs. Savage and Bull on tho evening of November 15. There wris no sign of a Mow on, the back of the head, but what was left of tho left ear was crushed into the skull. Prom the left ear round to tho right brow there was one continuous bruise, evidently caused by the one blow. There were six to eight abrasions on the lower part of tho face, and tho noso was dislocated. At this stage Mr. Lundon was proceeding to question, witness concerning a conversation said to have taken place with Harvey during luncheon adjournment in the course of which the latter was alleged to have stated that lie had a revolver in his possession at Karangahake on November 11. when Mr. Mays objected, contending that the conversation was confidential. Mr. Liihdon recalled Harvey who denied , having informed the previous witness or a man named Lark that he had had a revolver in his , possession on the date mentioned. Tho examination of Canham was then resumed and he stated that Harvey had in the conversation mentioned said that he (Harvey) had a revolver at Karanga--hake on November 11, but if ho acknowledged its possession ho would be put up for perjury. Mr. Lundon, who was present, then told Harvey that he would l>o given an opportunity of retracing and telling the truth later, and also pointed, out that there were half a dozen witnesses to say he had a revolver. To Mr. Mays. Harvey came to Mr. Lundon and asked him to advise him (Harvey) oh the position. Witness did not consider tho incident a trap, nor that confidence hod been betrayed. Continuing under cross-examination Canham said ho had already deposed that there were no signs of injury on tho back or top nf tho head. Mr. Mays: Did you examine tho inside of tho scalp after it had been turned back? Witness: No. Did yon examine the outsido of the skull after the scalp was removed? Witness: No, Did you examine tho dura meter (that is tho inner lining of the skull) to see tho bloodfilms? Witness: No. Mr. Mays: Then why havo you the temerity to come down here and say there wore no signs of injury to tho ton nnd bank of the head? Witness: I stood aside nnd. watched j what the doctors did, but. didn't examine the scalp nnd skull, nnd didn't do any of the "butchery work."