The Menthorn Tragedy

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 76, 9 December 1884, Page 3

The Menthorn Tragedy

o - VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER, [per united press association.] Dunedin, December 6. The two prisoners White and Crowley were brought up at Outram to-day, and charged with the murder of William Meldrum. The case was adjourned pending the inquest. This was held in the afternoon. Tbe medical evidence showed that death had resulted from bleeding from the knife wounds. In crossexamination by Mr Denniston, Dr McChaw said that if proper appliances had been at hand an hour after the occurrence, the man's life could probably have been saved. White and Fitzgerald (the latter is still at large) were boarders with Meldrum. Evidence was given by Mrs Meldrum and some navvies as to hearing remarks during the quarrel by one or other of the three men that they would kill Meldrum, and if they had a knife they would cut his throat. They were all in drink. Fitzgerald was known on tbe works as Garrett- It is not exactly known how the row began, but it seems • thatawdman named Burke was in Outram a day or two ago and complained that Meldrum had cut her on tbe head, and was heard to say that she would get u some of the boys to go for Meldrum." Fitzgerald made the remark during the Monday evening, when a number of men were playing cards in Mehirum's, that he was Irish ano" meant to hare a row. The conclusion of the inquest is not yet to hand. Later. The result of the inquest on the Menthorn aff-ir was a verdict of wilful murder against tbe three men. Word has been receivod by the police of Fitzgerald haying been seen at a place called Clark's Flat. He left M enthorn with the avowed intention of going to Dunedin to tell the police all about the affair and give himself np, but evidently changed his mind on the road.