FATAL FRACAS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1079, 6 August 1912, Page 3

FATAL FRACAS

DEATH AFTER A FIGHT

Hamilton, August 5

The inquest on the death of Abraham Ngahiwi, a native, aged forty, opened before Mr Loughnan S.M., to-day and a jury. The evidence was very lengthy. Kenneth Moore, the young man concerned in the fight, was present, but not in custody. It appears that the two men played a game of billiards at Huntly on Saturday night. A dispute arose after a scuffle, in which deceased appeared to have been the aggressor. It was decided to meet at the mill at Taipiri, a few miles distant, the following morning. They met there in a fight lasting 35 minutes. Thirty* spectators were present, and it is alleged that there was a stake of £s. Ngahivvi’s wife said that her husband came home on Sunday at dinner-time and told her that he had been fighting. His face was bruised and bleeding. He went to bed and was restless. He did not get up, but had his tea of bread and butter in the evening. His face was dreadfully swollen. On Monday morning early . deceased was groaning and did not speak. On Tuesday she sent lor the doctor, who ordered him to the hospital. He was taken there on Wednesday and never spoke to her again. Dr. Mac Diarmid detailed the condition ol deceased. His condition was consistent with the statement that he had been fighting, The cerebral injuries might have been caused by a blow from another or from a fall.

Dr. Douglas, superintendent of the Waikato Hospital, said that deceased was unconscious when admitted and remained so till he died at 5.45 p.m. on Thursday. During that time he had several convulsive seizures. A post mortem examination revealed no fracture of the skull, but hemorrhage was apparent, old pleurisy, and commencing pneumonia ol the right lung. In answer to the police, he said that the injury must have been recent.

To the Foreman : Pneumonia would probably accelerate death. Mr Northcroft appearing for Moore, said that it was probable that other proceedings might be taken. He advised his client not to answer any questions that might incriminate him. Further exhaustive evidence was taken, lasting till a late hour. The jury returned a verdict that Ngahiwi died as the result of a fight with Kenneth Moore. The latter was then charged that he did feloniously kill and slay Ngahiwi. He was remanded until Friday, bail being allowed in his own surety of and of which accused’s mother took up.