ADJOURNED INQUEST.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 818, 11 March 1871, Page 2

ADJOURNED INQUEST.

The enquiry touching the death of the late James Cattle was resumed yesterday, at 2 p.m., at the Court-House, before Caleb Wliitefoord, Esq., Coroner, and a jury. Constable John Keating : On Friday last, I was standing beside Constable M'Kenna, at the rear of the little shed on the Camp Reserve. I saw Constable Flannagan, in plain clothes, speaking to Constable Cashion, within three or four yards of us. Flannagan owns a paddock in rear of the Police Paddock, and he and Cashion went as far as the rail of it, where they remained for a short time, when Cashion came home, but I cannot say where Flannagan went. Flannagan wore a high-crowned felt hat, a dark tweed coat, and Bedford cord trousers. Flannagan's paddock is in rear of Mr Bock's premises. I saw Flannagan in the paddock for about half-an-hour ,• but he might have been there much longer. I did not see the deceased in the paddock that day. Constable D. Flannagan : On Friday last I was in the Police Paddock about 6 p.m., speaking to three of the constables, at the end of the iron building, where the roller lies. Keating was sitting on the roller. Cashion and I went towards my paddock, when he left me, and I proceeded on in rear of Mr Bock's premises. I had on the tall-crowned felt hat produced. I have not seen James Cattle since I came up from Hokitika, on Thursday week. I had not a parcel in my hand when I went into the paddock. I entered the paddock from the front of the station. I could have been seen from the rear of Hellier's premises. Constable M. Cashion gave similar evidence. Constable Keating re-called : I have just been at Mrs Hellier's house. From the rear of it I had a view of the little iron building in the paddock, and two constables standing at the spot where we were talking yesterday week. Mrs Hellier could not identify either of them. W. W. Woolfe : I last saw James Cattle alive on Thursday or Friday morning, but I believe it to have been Friday about 10 a.m. I saw him on the lefthand side of Sefton Bridge, over the bridge, about 20 yards on the road. He seemed to be going from town, and appeared to be in his usual condition. He said "Good morning, Wallace," and I replied. I saw no indication of drink about him. He wore a felt hat, light color, a worsted jacket. Another man was standing within a few yards of him, and I supposed he was in Cattle's company. I believe Cattle wore a gold chain at the time.

Fritz Dupre, member of the firm of Dupre and Rensch, watchmakers, Greymouth : 1 knew James Cattle, and that he was possessed of three watches. Two of them are now in my possession — one for about two years, and the other since the 2nd February last. He said he had one or two more watches to repair. The third watch I know of is a silver hunting lever, No. 8276. The watch now shown me is the same, and the one he used to call his own and wear. The others, he said, he had lent money on. I have seen him wear a jet chain or a black ribbon. By Jurors : I do not remember having seen him wear a bright gold chain. I think he used to wear a large signet ring.

Amelia Kettle, wife of Robert Kettle, at present residing on Preston road, not far from Sefton Bridge : I knew James Cattle by sight, and last saw him alive on Thursday or Friday last, about half-past one o'clock. He passed in the direction of the Rev Mr M'lntosh's house. At the time I made the remark to my son ;

"There's Mr Cattle going by ; he appears to be half-muddled with drink." He did not stagger ; it was his manner and appearance that made me think he was in drink. His hat was pulled over his eyes ; it was a brown felt hat with a broad brim. I did not see him return.

Jane Anderson, recalled : On Friday last, this day week, in the afternoon I observed some person talking to two constables in the police paddock. I was at home. I was sure it was the deceased, and thought he was talking about a case he had already brought under their notice. I looked on until the man came away, in company with a constable, as far as the end of the paddock. When he came so near I saw that it was not Cattle but Flanagan. I cannot say how many watches Cattle had, and cannot identify the one shown me. The appendages to this watch were his. I do not think he had a gold f chain. The last time I saw him wear a watch was on Tuesday week, at this Court. I gave Mr Hickson a silver watch last night. It was hanging up over the fire-place in the kitchen, where I found it on Friday morning. Cattle had a chain he wore, not gold, but washed. I cannot say where that chain is now ; it is not in the house. I think he wore the washed chain on Tuesday week. There is a gold watch in the house now. Cattle usually wore a silver watch, in addition to the silver watch which was hung up in the house.

Frederick Walker, a gardener : I know James Cattle well. I saw him at the Court House last Tuesday week. I was speaking to him, and noticed that he wore a silver watch and a steel chain. He took out his watch twice in my presence. I | know that he was possessed of two watches— one that he wore at the Court House, with the second hand off, and' the other with sort of gold hands. The watch shown me is the one he wore at the Court House on Tuesday week. He did not wear a ring on that day. By Jurors : I was in his confidence ; I do not know of any person who owed him any ill-will. Jane Anderson, re-called : I produce a short steel chain, which used to hang up in the hotel. On Friday morning, when I went back to the house, there was brandy and champagne in it. 1 did not miss much when I came back, only a little brandy. Some drink has been taken in since that time. Frederick Walker, repealled : That is not the chain Cattle was wearing. Sub-Inspector Hick3on : Last night, I went to the residence of the late James Cattle, accompanied by Sergeant Moller and three others, for the purpose of searching for a watch. The silver watch now produced was handed to me by Jane Anderson. The jet-and-gold chain I Baw in the house, and it came into my possession this morning. I also saw a gold watch and a silver chain, but could find no others there. Mr Hickson said that every search had been made along the beach where the body was found for a watch, but without effect. He also mentioned that there was a large quantity of drink in the house of the deceased ; and that he believed the two prisoners who said they saw Cattle on Friday were mistaken ; that it was on the previous Tuesday ; but he could not give any positive evidence to that effect. Harriet Hill, known as Mrs Brown : I have known James Cattle for three or four years. I went to the deceased's house the day Cattle's body was found, in company with Mrs Hogan, aud saw Matilda Powell there. I said to Tilly, "This is a fearful thing about poor Cattle." She said, " Yes ; it was not two minutes before the police catne that Jane Anderson said she wished some one would come in and tell her that Cattle had been drowned ; and if such a thing happen she was sure Steve (deceased's brother) would always be a good friend to her." Tilly also said she was asked by Jane Anderson to look at the Bible for Cattle's age, which she did. Tilly then said, "Let us look over the Bible and we may see something more." I said, "They say he is very black,", when Tilly replied, " I don't wonder at it from the hammering he got." We did not mention any names. Mrs Hogan heard some of this conversation, as she went backwards and forwards. The first day of the inquest I called Tilly and asked her to tell the truth about what she said to me, because if she would not I would. By Jurors : It was while Tilly and Jane Anderson were looking up the Bible for Cattle's age and where he was born that the police knocked at the door, with the information that Cattle's body was found. Aune Hogan : I remember being in Cattle's house when his body was found, and hearing a part of a conversation between Mrs Brown and Tilly. (She related it precisely the same as the last witness.) Sub-Inspector Hickson said that when he entered the house the Bible was open, and both women told him they had just been speaking of Cattle and looking up his age. They had no information about his death then. He asked them where Cattle was, and Anderson said he had been out for a few hours. He told her to be particular, when she said a few days. He told her Cattle was dead, when she gave a light laugh, and said, "If he is dead I did not kill him." He told her that she treated the matter very lightly, when she became much affected. He thought she did not believe his statement at first. Both women had evidently been drinking, and had as much as they could bear.

L. C. Anseline gave some unimportant evidence as to a man being mistaken for Cattle on Monday.

The Coroner commenced his remarks by stating that great credit was due to Sub-Inspector Hickson for the manner in which he had brought forward every person who wa3 likely to throw any light on this strange affair ; and he thanked the jury for the earnest attention they had given to the numerous witnesses, and for manner in which they had assisted him in the course of the enquiry. After hearing all the evidence that had been adduced, there was no doubt that their verdict as to the cause of death would mainly rest upon the evidence of Dr Morice. He read over the deposition of the doctor, and commented generally upon the testimony of all the ether witnesses, and left it to jury to view ail the surrounding circumstances and. form their own conclusions as to their verdict. One point with regard to the conversation between the two women he looked upon only as a singular coincidence, but nothing to which any serious consideration should be given.

The Court was cleared, and the jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of "Found Drowned."