Murder at Tuapeka

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 99, 22 March 1888, Page 3

Murder at Tuapeka

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.

Dunbdin, March 20.

A shocking stabbing affray occurred at Tuapeka on the 18th instant, and a man named Mcßory was brought up at Lawrence to-day, charged with the murder, and was remanded till Monday next. The circumstances are of an exceedingly painful nature, and the way the unfortunate man was treated after the occurrence, shows a shocking want of humanity on the part of those about him. It appears that Alexander Connolly (the deceased) in company with James Mcßory and a man named Walsh were drinking together on Sunday evening at the Tuapeka Mouth Hotel, owned by a man named Edmeads. After a time Mcßory went outside with "Walsh to look after some horses that had broken loose, and Connolly remained in the house dunking with two others. At about nine o'clock Mcßory '-was standing at Auld's store 3 when Connolly, with several others, advanced towards him in the dark, and called him a had name, at the same time striking him, and knocking nim down. When Mcßprj: was lying on his back, Connolly knelt oa him, putting his hand on his throat, and Mcßory, after trying to get up, pulled. out his knife and stabbed Connolly in the groin. As to what transpired immediately afterwards,. lam not in a position to aay, but Connolly was allowed to he at Tuapeka Mouth all night in his olothes, which were saturated with blood, and no effort was made to obtain medical assistance, nor does there seem to have been any attempt at dressing the wound. In the morning he was put into a spring cart littered with a little straw, and in that he was jolted over sixteen miles of Tough road to the hospital. Even when he arrived at Lawreiice he was allowed to remain in the street for a while until a permit for his admission was signed by a member of the Hospital Board. He became delirious, And died about an hour after being admitted.

There is another incident in connection with, the matter that should not be overlooked. When Connolly was brought to the hospital, Dr Waters aaid that- he was dying, and immediately despatched £dmeads L the hotelieeper, who had driven the man in a «priug cart, with a letter to Dr Blair, him to come at- once and assist -him in ligaturing the wound; also with a letter to the police, asking them to bring a magistrate to take the dying man's depositions. For aome reason or other these letters were not delivered, and Connolly died before his depositions were taken. lEdmeads denies having received the letters. — Herald's Correspondent, 1&IK TTKITBD PBESB ASSOCIATION.] •/•" '■•- BussniN, This Diy. The inquest .at Lawrence did not con■clude till one this morning. The jury returned a verdict, of manslaughter, ad■ding a rider that while. Connolly's death -was directly caused by the stab in the groin it was nevertheless. {expedited by the gross negligence and indifference of those about him. Death would not have occurred had he received proper surgical treatment. . - ■ ■'