SCENE IN COURT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 83, 15 April 1913, Page 7

SCENE IN COURT.

WITNESS DEFIES THE CORONER. Thcre'tVas a pitiable scene in the Magistrate’s Court room yesterday afternoo'rt '(says the Southland Times), when Samuel Hazlett,..brother of the late William Hazlett, was giving evidence at the inquiry into the tragic death of the latter. The climax was reached when Hazlett was attempting to detail the facts concerning a visit to the 1 ' Mataura river made by his dead- brother and himself. The witness, without any apparent justification, seemed to think that the inspector’s questions were directed against him, and he suddenly'divested hpnsclf of any vestiges of control which he had previously retained. He broke down and wept rcstrainedly into his handkerchief, and kept up a frenzied reiteration of his innocence. “If you think I am guilty swing me,” he cried, “I am not guilty ,of any offence, and neither was my brother/’? After giving the witness an opportunity to recover himself, the Coroner suggested, jthat he should stand down for a few minutes. “1 won’t stand, down!” Hazlett shouted. “1 will not stand down under any consideration.” “Stand down for a little while,” suggested Inspector Norwood. °J won’t! 1 will not!” the witness declared, gripping the front of the witness-box with determined hands. “Take a glass of water,” a solicitor suggested. “1 won’t take a glass of water !’?(; shouted Hazlett. The position was fast becoming' exceedingly painful, and the- Goionci nas apparently at a loss as. to how to proceed. “Is he to be removed?” the inspector asked <th% coroner. - “I won’t he removed!” Hazlett declared emphatically. “I am going to state my case if you—will suing me for it.” “Sit down!” the Magistrate commanded. “I won’t sit down! I won’t!” Hazlett declared determinedly. “Come on, now,” said Detective Cameron, kindly. “I .will:/hot!” Hazlett stubbornly responded. Mr W. T. Hazlett approached the witness-box, and whispered a remonstrance to the! frenzied man. The only response lie got was the words, “I won’t” shouted in his ear.‘“lf you think I murdered him, swing me for it,” the unfortunate man' declared again and agafh. < o . “It Is for your Worship to .say whether this should go on,” Inspector ■Norwood remarked to the coroner. “I will stay .here and aritfer any like,” Hazlett dcclai cd.“lf you think { murdered him, swing me for it. Under’ no consideration will d tsVa nd id°wn. ” | .M d / o d Mr A. 15. Hagitt approached, the qntifeKSsdgisOi)nd,*£>l>k'e to the .witness, but got no more satisfaction than a shouted, “I won’t.’ArrInspector Norwood (to the coroner): “Will you go on with,This witness?” The Coroner: “I will adjourn the inquiry. |or a few minutes. ’The coroner I then le^| Mid’the wdHftfisjcalled after him, “You ‘ •tro' -frighthnefl! y Jf, you,. tlijpk. X : ' guiltybswiiig' for ? lot guilty under any .., consider qtjqn!” , Inspector*’"Nopwood and J^etectiye Cameron the and : Hazlett, wdio resisted, (strenuously, was forcibly removed from the courtroom. For some time afterwards his protesting voice and cries- could be heard coming from the corridor..