INQUEST ON THE DEATH OF JOHN SIMMONS.
The adjourned inquest on the body of John Simmons, held at the Hospital on Suturlay weak, wa<» resumed yesterday, at two o'clock, in I tha Resident Maoris trate's Court-house. James Illingworth, wool-sorter, lately in the employ of the Meat P™s*rvin<j Coraoany, j Winton, stated that on Tuesday, 23ri July, he remembered Cliffjrd and Simmons arriving at Morrison's Hotel. They all three remained there tint night. Saw Simmons next morning j about 8 o'clock ; he was quite well. K«pt company with him and other two till dinnertime, drinking together. Felt a little the worse of liquor about that time ; went to bed. Rose asain early in the evening, had one glass of whiskey, and went to sit at the dining-room fire. Was sober then, tn a short time, about fifteen minutes, beard Mrs Morrison's voice in the bar savin? to some one, " Clear out, you thief." Mr Morrison came into the dining-room, meeting Simmons at the door that Jeads out of the bar into the dining-room, and told him to clear out. He said he would not. Mr Morrison turned round on his heel and said, " We will soon see whether you will or not." He then went away and returned immediately with a weapon in his hand, about two feet long — something after the style which the ladies use for crushing up potatoes after they are boiled, with a knob at the end of it. (An instrument of the kind produced and identified). Mr Morrison held the weapon over Simmons, and said. " Now will you go ?" He said he would not. Morrison brought the weapon down, whilst Siramon3 was in the a'Jt of speaking, on to the left side of his head. Simmons dropped instantly. He had been standing up with his face towards Mr Morrison. Morrison struck him once. The deceased held up his hands and crouched down to receive the blow. The blow did not seem to be ft severe one. Simmons rose of his own accord, immediately, without assistance. Mr Morrison took hold of him either by the collar, or by the small of the arm, and showed him th« way out at the door. Deceased fell immediately he received the blow, just as quick as if a bullet had gone through him. Deceased siid nothing when he got up. Hid not see him again until about two o'clock next day, Thursday, 25tb July. He was lying by the side of the road, about 25 yards from the *oad, and about 215 yards from the house. He seemed paralysed on one side, and complained of feeling so. Morrison, Clifford, and witness all went together to see him. Morrison returned to fetch him a nobbier of brandy. By the Resident Magistrate— Thought he was paralysed by being out all night in the cold. Did not think much of the blow. By a juror — The deceased and witness had a quarrel on Tuesday night, but there were no blows struck. Was not far away from Morrison when the blow was struck — the length of a long table. The lamps were lighted. Elizaboth Morrison, daughter of Mr Morrison, hotelkeeper, Benmore, stated that Simmons bad two falls ; one on Tuesday ni^lit, going in from the dining-room into the bar, against tlie bar door, by tripping on a m*t. He fought with IllingW)Vth that night. The other fall w« on Thursday, when he was brought into the outhouse, but could not say how he fell. B>iw her father put him out on Wainesiay afternoon ab>iut three o'clock. He staid at the housj about an hour after. He came into the bar again after he was put out. At four o'clock saw the deceased ; he seemed to be quite well. Constable Tuohy identified the wooden masher as having been received by him at Morrison's house on Monday last from Miss Morrison. Went for ie in consequence of a telegram received from Queens town. The Resident Magistrate then addressed the jury, informing them that they were the sole judges of fact, and of the credibility of the evidence. If they believed the statement of Illingworth, their verdict would have to be wilful murder, unless on a careful consideration of the whole of the evidence, they were able to discover such extenuating circumstances as might mitigate the offence to manslaughter. At the requi'st of the jury, the medical evidence of Dr 0-rigor as to the cause of death wns read, to the effect that deceased died from the results of two fractures of th'< inner plate of the skull, on the left side of the head. The Court-house was cleared that the jury might consider their verdict. After a deliberation of two hours, the '"'it returned the following verdict : — That John Si nmoiu, alias Snow, tnei his death in consequence of one or more blows on the head, re* ceived from the hand of Donald Morrison, under circumstances of provocation which limits the case to a charge of manslaughter against the said Donald Morrison.
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Southland Times, Issue 1619, 13 August 1872, Page 2
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836INQUEST ON THE DEATH OF JOHN SIMMONS. Southland Times, Issue 1619, 13 August 1872, Page 2
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