BILLIARD SALOON TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 175, 19 April 1919, Page 6

BILLIARD SALOON TRAGEDY

PROCEEDINGS at inquest. The inquest into the death of Hezekiah Walter James Turner, who -was found shot dead at the back of the .Midland Billiard Saloon. Maimers Street, on April 10, was resumed before Mr. F. V". Ij' azei '' S.M., at the Magistrate's Court on InursW. Kinglon Fvll'e said lie examined deceased and found five fairly recent bruises-on the right arm and under tho ri"llt eve. The bullet bad entered the riUhf cheek, missed the eye, and cilterci. thV brain. Death resulted from tne bullet wound. . ' ~ • -To the Coroner: The course of IW bullet was practically horizontal, witn a little dipping towards the rear of ino 1-ead*. The shot could not have been fired at any great- distance, as there were little grains of powder round the wound. It was impossible to say' whether tho slid! was accidental or deliberate. .Death would have been instantaneous. . James Edward May. single man, residill"' in Abel Smith Street, said that on April to he left his home ill - company witlrthe deceased, and proceeded to Cuba Street, where thev met Robert John Mai.tin. Leonard Russell, and Joseph lereuco Malier. Witness, Martin and ( decease, then- proceeded to the Mid.and Saloon and had a game.-.of billiards 'whilst: thev wailed for the-election io suits Martin and deceased proposed n "•game of billiards; and witness saidl that he would wait, but before they staiteu Martin and deceased proposed druiK. The three then proceeded to the lavatwy. where they were to have a drinb.. \Yltness produced a flask,of whisky, but 'bey did not have a drink from his flask. Turner a<ked Martin to let him have a look at his (Martin's) gun. ■ Martin produced a firearm from his pocket. \Uti.ess' could not say with which hand Martin held the weapon, for the gun-be said he would flight™ someone with it. M'orlin saul' Oh, dicken, don't come, at that! made a grab, and caught the gun. '-hen there was a bang. The revolver had gone off Turner fpll against the door wit hunt a word. Marliu cried-. "Oh, —. bos shot!''' and pulling bis hands up to bis head-rushed out. Wituess fp loww a ar-. lin and told him to come back, but Martin said: "I can't. I can't." Two n-en named Maher and Rusfell came along v.-hile witness was sneaking with Martin. They refused to believe that Turner had been *hot. Witness took Maher Iu the billiard saloon, and- showed him the >)e----eeased. Witness, like the deceased and His ,other man who was present when : (he Iragedv occurred, had' had a few drinks, but was certainly not drunk.. Robert John Martin gave corroborati 8 evidence. When in-the lavatory he vent lo null out a (la s k of whisky, and pulled the revolver out will, it. Both-the flask and the revolver were in the right-hand hl '\Mhis Cl sla'>" His Worship adjourned 'the "inquest till 10 o'clock this morning.