PAINFUL SCENE AT INQUEST.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1722, 12 April 1913, Page 8

PAINFUL SCENE AT INQUEST.

AN EXCITED WITNESS

'There was n pitiable scene in the Magistrate's Court-room on Tuesday afternoon, (says tho "Southland Times"), when Sitmuel Hazlett, brother, of tho lato William Hazlett, was giving evidence at tho inquiry into tho tragic death of tho latter. Tho climax was reached when Hazlett was attempting to detail tho facts concerning a visit to the Mataura River mado by his dead brother and himself. Tho witness, without any apparent justification, seemed to think that tho inspector's questions wero directed against him, and lie suddenly divested himself of any vestiges of control which ho had previously retained, lio broke down and wept robtrainedly into his handkerchief, and kept up a frenzied reiteration of his innocence, "if you think I am guilty, swing nio," ho cried? "1 am not guilty of any offence, and neither was my brother." After giving tho witness an opportunity to recover himself, tho Coroner suggested that he should staud down for a few minutes., "I won't staud down!' Hazlett shouted. "I will not stand down under any couBidsratiou." "Stand down a little while," suggested Inspector .Norwood. "I won't! I will not!" the witness declared,- gripping tho front of the witnessbox with determined hands. "Take a glass of water," a solicitor suggested. , "I won't take a glass of water i" shouted llci&lntt. 'l'lie position was fast becoming;,exceeding painful, and tho Coroner ently at a loss as to how to prdceed, "Is he to bo removed?" tho inspector asked the coroner. "Hit down!" the magistrate commanded. "I won't sit down! I won't!" Hazlett determinedly declared. "Come oil, now," said Detective Cameron, kindly. "I will not!" Hazlett stubbornly, responded. Mr. IV. T. Hazlett approached the wit-ness-box, and whispered a remonstranco to tho frenzied man. The only response ho got was the words, "I wont!" shouted in his ear. "If you think I murdered him, swing me for it!" the unfortunate man declared again and again. "It is for your Worship to say whether this should go on," Inspector Norwood remarked to the coroner. "I will stay here and answer any question you like," Hazlett declared. ' l lf you think I murdered him, swing me for it. Under no consideration will I stand down." Mr. A. B. Haggitt approached the wit-ness-box and spoke to the witness, but got no more satisfaction, than a shouted "I won't." Inspector Norwood (to the coroner): "Will you go on .with this witness?" The Coroner: "I will adjourn'tils inquiry for a few minutes." The coroner then left the bench, nnd the witness called after him: "You are frightened! If you think I am guilty swing me for it! I am not guilty tinder any consideration." „ _ . Inspector Norwood and Detective Cameron entered the witness-box, and Hazlett, who resisted strenuously, was forcibly removed from tho court room. For some time afterwards his protesting voice and cries could ba held coming from the corridor. ■