The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1878. FATAL ACCIDENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 311, 29 December 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1878. FATAL ACCIDENT.

The Lady Barkly brought over on Saturday evening the news of a fatal and most painful accident which occurred at Takaka, on Christmas Eve, to a man named Michael Campion. The circumstances attending the accident will be best ascertained by a perusal of the following evidence, which was taken at a Coroner's inquest held before Mr. Sparrow, J.P. The deceased leaves a wife and two children, for whom the greatest sympathy is felf, as well as for the unfortunate young man who inflicted the fatal wound. A verdict of manslaughter was returned against Charles Lewis, who was admitted to bail, and will take his trial at the Supreme Court on Monday next. The following is the evidence : — Joshua Newport : I reside in Takaka. I occasionally work for Mr Lewis, and was at work for him yesterday in company with the deceased, Mr Chsrles Lewis, and his brother Edward. We were carting hay al! day. I was engaged at the timo of the accident in forking up hay off the ground into the cart to the deceased. Edward Lewis was standing at the slip rails leaning on the fence. About dusk I heard deceased cry out that the fork had run into him. I had my back towards him, and on turning round I saw him fall from the cart to the ground. I ran to him and found the fork had pierced him in the belly. After bringing him into the house, I noticed two forks in the cart. Charles Lewis was coming down from the stack. When he came down the deceased asked him to shake hands with him, and they shook hands. We, after that, brought him into the house. They had been on very friendly terms all day. I did not hear them talking or speaking angrily to each other, but I heard Mr Lewis say the deceased was talking about things he knew nothing about. If I had paid attention I could have heard all that that they were talking about. By the jury: When the deceased shook hauda with Mr Lewis I did not hear any expression of any kind. I heard Mr Lewis say when he came down thafc he could not help it, he did not throw the fork with the intention of hitting him. I could not say whether it was possible for Mr Lewis to see deceased at the time. I did not hear Charles Lewis say to deceased, If you don't hold your tongue I'll come down and make you. I did not hear deceased say " Charlie, you have killed me." Edward Lewis : I live with my father. I was helping to cart the hay yesterday in company with the deceased, Joshua Newport, and my brother Charles. About dark I was standing at the entrance of the yard. I heard my brother and deceased talking. Ido not know what they said. They seemed to be speaking rather angrily to each other. I was looking at the deceased as he stood io the dray when I saw the fork strike him. He cried out, "Oh ! Oh !"and staggered back. The fork seemed to just strike him and fall down into the dray. My brother at the time was on the stack. He stood near the north end of it. I do not know how far it was to the edge of the stack. My brother came down. . Ths deceased asked roy brother to shake hands with him, and saiJ, "I know you did not do it on purpose." I then left and went for the doctor. By the Jury : I think deceased had his face towards the stack. My brother stood upon the north Bide. Ido not think my brother could have seen the deceased from where he stood. The dray was empty, and my brother was about leaving the stack. I heard ray brother say that if deceased did not ieave off making such remarks he would come down and make him. They had been joking about different things all day. Ido not know when the remarks first, commenced. I was not there the whole of the time. I think the dray was empty at the time, as Joshua Newport was on the ground forking up bay. Dr. Tilby gave evidence with reference to the nature of the wound. Patrick Byrne : I know the deceased. I saw him aiive the last tirao a little after daylight. I came to him jfboufc 10 o'clock last night and remained with him until he died. I aske.l him if he bad any message for his wife. He said, "No, only tell her that she will have to do without me now." By the jury : I heaad a conversation between the Doctor and Charles Lewis as to how the afiair happened. I heard Charles Lewis say he threw the fork. I heard deceased say to Mr. Charles Lewis, "It is my own fault.. Charlie ; it is my own fault." Susan Lewis : I reside at the Grange, Takaka, I was there when the deceased was brought in and laid upon the bed. Charles was in great distress of mind, and was bending over deceased. The deceased took hold of him and said, "Charlie, Charlie, don't fret. It was not your fault." Charlio said , "Do you forgive me ?" The deceased replied, "I have nothing to forgive." Two or three times ho begged Charlie not to fret. |

A closely contested rifla match took place on Friday at the Waimea West Butts between the Waimea and City Rifles, which resulted in favor of the latter by ten points. > ho shooting on both sides was very gooJ. The ranges were 200, 400, and 500 yards, any positiou throughout, five shots at each range, nine men a side. After the match was over both teams aat down to an excellent tea provided by Mr Palmer. To finish up the day a game of cricket was played between the rival teams, when the Wairaeaß met with better luck, beating their city triendß with four wickets to go down. The following are the scores of the rifle match : —

City Rifles. 200yd8 400 yds 500 yds Totals Priv. J. P. Kissel... 43443 44323 40442 4S „ C. Moore ... 34333 33233 43324 46 Scrg. D. Burns ... 34444 22443 30233 45 Priv. S. Croßßman 44444 43343 82330 45 Serg. J. A. Burn ... 34403 34423 23402 41 Priv. H. Moore ... 33232 32443 34204 38 „ T. Ueher ... 33432 33104 20322 38 „ H. Godfrey ... 32244 22233 02320 34 „ Escourt. 32243 4r323 220 te 32 367 Waimea West Rif_es. Priv. F. Tomlinson 33444 23424 22334 47 „ J. Baigeut ... 43434 33332 32423 46 „ R. Fowler ... 43434 34343 32033 46 Serg. Tomlinson ... 3*i334 34434 00232 41 Captain Baigent ... 44244 23333 02-24& 40 Sergt. Boddington 33434 23430 83032 37 Priv. J. Arnold ... 44333 2C033 20*42 35 Sergt. A HaU ... 22032 32343 23320 34 Sub-Lieut. Ford ... 32323 30433 ,30002 . 31 357