ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 6 February 1901, Page 4

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

(per press association.)

Dunedin, February 4.

An inquest was held to-day on the body of an unknown man found on Cargill c ill's. The medical evidence was that the body was that of a man of from 30 to 35 years, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches. His fingers indicated that he was not much accustomed to manual labour. There was a wound right through the skull from the left to the right, as if from a bullet wound. There was nothing to indicate how the man died. The police on removing the body found a five-chambered revolver, four of which were loaded, a watch and chain and a discolored shilling were found on the body. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from a self-inflicted wound caused by a bullet discharged from a revolver. No clue as yet has been found as to his identity. Duxedix, February 5.

An inquest held by Mr C. C. Graham, Coroner, into the rather complicating circumstances attending the death of George Gibbs, a greaser on the Otarama, was concluded to-day. The evidence was conflicting owing partly to the enmity existing between the fireman and seaman and partly to the fact that a number of the witnesses wore more or less under the influence of drink at the time of the occurrence. The jury, however, were able to arrive at a verdict with which the Coroner concurred—that death was caused by a knife stab inflicted by Alexander Thompson. They added that in their opinion, Knust, the other man in custody, was in no wa} r to blame. Auckland, February 4.

At the Police Court further evidence was taken in the case of the Maori Rauriri Taua, charged with having murdered his wife Hikikihi at Miranda on December 2Gth. Accused was committed for trial from Raglan. Tho reported disappearance of a Maori named Charles Heta is under circumstances which point to drowning. It appears that Aeta left Raglan on Saturday for Teaku in a small boat and the boat was discovered at sea floating bottom upwards. It is feared that the unfortunate man was drowned.

Herman Poll, aged 23, a carpenter, was drowned in the Wakamarina river, Marlborough, yesterday. He was engaged building a pontoon for the Golden Point dredge. While returning to the shore the boat was capsized by the current and Poll was swept away. A lad named Francis Haughey, who was in the boat, scrambled ashore.