SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT MURRURUNDL

Evening Star, Issue 4265, 27 October 1876, Page 1

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT MURRURUNDL

(Abridged from the Singleton Argue, bet. 4.) On October 8, Captain Wheeler, coroner for the district, held an inquiry at Murrnrundi into the death of Cornelius O’Brien. William Henry Gordon deposed that he was a medical practitioner, residing at Muroua o’clock on the morning of the 2nd instant he heard a noise. He went to his front door and called out, “Is anyone there r His daughter Ellen said, “ There’s some one at the back.” He said, “It’s old „ drunk 68 uea&l . and I shall not go out. He referred to a man who frequently worked for him. He got into bed again, and about a quarter of an hour elapsed when his daughter called out again to him, “.You had better go; he’s pulling the place down. He went out to the back part of the premises, and said, “You old ruffian, this time 111 pat you in the lock-up.” Ho then heard a toico call out, “Doctor, for Gods sake come—l'm stabbed.” He then —j » gate Ending to the paddock, and 816 y° u A. voice said, Solly Cohen, and lam stabbed.” At this time he (witness) had nothing bn but his shirt. He opened the gate, and ran across to the fence dividing his property from the premises of Mr Kingsmill. He there saw Solomon Cohen and a man, the deceased. Wing m a drain which had been newly cut. Oohen said, “I caught this manentedngmy store. 1 followed him, and he has stabbed me ; help me, for lam very faint.” Ho 1 (witness) then started to the house, callins out, “ Solly Cohen is ‘ stabbed—give me my boots and trousers.” He put a pair of boots on, and said to his daughter and wife, “ Get any assistance yon can?’ He did not put his trousers on. He took a piece of clothes hne and went over to Cohen. Cohen and deceased were in the same position as when he left them. Cohen said, “I am getting very faint; I can’t stand it any longer.” He a twitch with a piece of the rope. Cphen . *®o cautious of the knife; he’s got a knife in his hand.” The deceased was lying flat in the gutter with a knife in his hand. He (witness) took the knife from him and threw it several yards away. He then slipped the noose over his wrist. As soon as he (witness) touched his hand to do so, He seized his (witness’s) wristband. this would cripple bis notion, deceased tore the sleeve from his shirt. He then put loop of the rope over deceased’! foot. The rope produced was that used in tying deceased. At the moment Mr George arrived, and said, “You’d better tie the other arm, ’ which he attempted to He (witness) said, “ Yon had better not. *The mans dead.” Mr Brodie said, “He’s not; he s only shamming.” When he (witness) went there, Cohen had his knee bn the man’s back while holding him in the drain. When Mr Brodie came Mr Cohen said “Tm &int,” and went away. The deceased was lying oxi ms face m the dram. The deceased made no resistance. He (witness) was satisfied that the man was dead three wimnfaw after he saw him. He believed that the action of the deceased in tearing his wristband: was his death-straggle. f . s William Bissett Knowles, M.8., C.M., deposed that he made a post mortem examination of the body of the deceased, whom he identified as Cornelius O’Brien. From the post mortem appearances he was of opinion that death resulted from dimmse of the heart, and that death was accelerated hy violent exertion and emotion. • > Solomon Cohen, jun., having been assisted into the room, deposed that he was a /Storekeeper, residing at Murrurundi, Abput 1 o clock in the morning of that day he was aroused' from his sleep by hearing a slight noise like some one kicking against a backet. He saw the shadow of a mnn pass by the bedroom window. He jumped out of bed and went to the windowani lookedout • He went into another room to try to -look through the front window. He could not see anything. He heard a noise in the front verandah. He ran back-to his bedroom and put on his trousers and slippers. He opened the back door and went around the front verandah. He saw a man trying to break in at the front door leading to the store. As soon as theinati saw him he turned away and apparently pat his hand into kis pocket, and made a couple of bounds 'and jumped, over the garden fence in front of thb hquse. He followed him, and called but to him to stop. He was then running as hard as he could. He took no notice of him (witness), and ram down towards the river. ’He rah ' right through the river and across to the other side, he (witness) following as dose-as he could. • When he got up on tho other bunk he (witness) was about ieveLwith him, and he doubled back and returned the same way. He (witness), when the-deceased was in the bed ofthe river, - picked upastoneanchthrew it at bim, striking him, he believed, in the back. He still continued running, bi£b after he hit him he made a slip on the stones, as though his feet went from under him, It did not stop him from running.; the stone was thrown while he (witness) was running; the deceased ran round Mr Kingsraiu’s kitchen two or three times,: he (witness) calling upon him .to stop, and for help; in running ronnd the house he picked up a broomhandle, and he made a jump ever the fence close by, which he fell over and into a drain the other side; while in the act of jumping over the fence he made a hit at him with the broomstick; he missed him and hit the fence; while he (witness) was runnings he made the hit at him and bounded over the fence after him; he was lying inadniu just the other side of the fence; he eanght hold of him and held him down, having one hand on his throat and the other on his. head; the deceased asked him to let him up. He told him he had him down and would keep him down until he got help. Dirootl} he struck at him with some instrument whith;sierced him under the right nipple. . Previous to his stabbing him. Dr Cordon came obtand him what was the matter. He told him he had a man down who had been, trying to break into the store. He asked him uhe could hold him for "a little while lobgfer. He told him he would try. "While Dr Cordon was walking towards him from his yard the man stabbed him. i : Ji

The jury, after being looked up several hours, were unable to come to a Verdict, and were discharged by the coroner, who will forward the depositions to the AttorneyGeneral for his disposal.

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