THE TUAPEKA MOUTH MANSLAUGHTER CASE. CORONER'S INQUEST.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 249, 24 March 1888, Page 3

THE TUAPEKA MOUTH MANSLAUGHTER CASE. CORONER'S INQUEST.

Dunedix, March 22. At the inquest on Connolly, David Walsh, ii blacksmith at Greenfield Station, deposed that ho wjb acquainted with deceased (AloxanderConnolly)and accused (Mcßory). He left (ireentield {Station at about six o'clock on Sunday evening, and voached Tuapeka Mouth between seven and eight o'clock. He saw Mcßory, Connolly, and McCormick standing at th 0 front of Aulu's store, a bhort distance from the hotel. When he was riding along ho called out to them to come and have a drink, which they did. Ho " shouted " twicu, and after boitit* half-an-hour in the hotel went outside to look for his horse. The horse was missing, and accompanied by Mcßory witness went along the road a short distance to tee if ho could find it. He saw some horses in a paddock, which lie entered, Mcßory remaining on the road. Vitnesn searched the paddock, but could not Hnd the horse. Just as he was leaving the paddock he heard a row »omowhere near Aulds Store. He saw Mcßory, Connolly and two others whom ho did not know. He heard Connolly say, "I am stuck." He did not attempt to interfere, as the two strangers had separated Connolly and McRory. He went to the hotel with Mcßory, and after staging there for a minute or two they both left for the station. To Inspector Weklon : I said to Mcßory that the sticking might prove a serious thing, and he replied that he was provoked. So far as 1 know, Connolly and McKory were on the best of terms. They quarrelted on the ISth. Charles Edwards, a labourer at Tuapeka Mouth, deposed that he saw Connolly make a blow at Mcltory, but could not say whether he hit him or not, as it was dark at the time. They took hold of each other and fell down on the ground. Connolly then sang out to witness, " Come and take hold of Mcßory, Charlie ; he is using a knife." Witness went to Connolly's assistance, taking a hold of McRory by the left hand. There was no knife in the hand that witness took hold of. The other hand was underneath Connolly's body. Both men rose to their feet at the same time. Connolly staggered and fell down, at the same time calling out to McRory, " Oh you b to use a knife to me, a man that never harmed you." McRory replied, "I could not have helped it, Sandy, if I was to bo hung to-morrow." Witness then assisted to take Connolly to the hobeL Mcßory, in the meantime, cleared out. The Resident -Surgeon of the Lawrence Hospital, Dr. Withers, makes the tollowing statement : The man when brought in was blanched and pul3eless from loss of blood, his clothes being saturated. No attempt had evidently been made to control the bleeding, the wound not having been dressed, only a cloth being loosely placed across it. No bleeding wa^ actually taking place, the man being in an utterly exhausted condition from pre\ious loss of blood. The wound was a clearly-cut, punctured wound in the neighbourhood of the left groin, and from its position, left no doubt as to one or more of the main vessels being necessarily wounded. The wotmd was such as might have been caused by some sharp-pointed instrument, and evidently penetrated a considerable depth. There was also a small wound or puncture in the abdomen, about seven inches higher up than the ono in the groin. From this, however, there was no bleeding of any importance. I immediately sent a written notice to the police, with a requefet that the Magistrate or Justice of Peace should be at-ked to r-ome and take the man's dopositions The letter was entrusted to a man named Edmead, who was the only messenger available, and who undertook to deliver it promptly. So far as I can gather the message was not delivered to the police until about 2.45 p.m., or an hour and a quarter after the messenger had been despatched. A letter was also entrusted to the same messenger (Edmead) for delivery to Dr. Blair, asking his assistance in the operation of ligaturing the wounded vessel. This letter also at 3 p.m. had not been delivered, Finding that the police did not come, and that the man way sinking fast, I at about 2.15 sent another messenger to the police, and Constable Daubncy arrived about 20 minutes later. By this time Connolly had expired. No further bleeding had taken place after hio arrival in the hospital. From what I can gather, the man's only chances as to receive prompt surgical attendance on receiving the injury, as 10-£ of blood from the wounding of a vessel « a* the sole cause of death. Mcßory (the accused) appeared to be fully conscious of the seriousness of his position, and admitted everything. He appeared to feel his position keenly. His version of the affair is as follows :— " On Sunday evening, about 8,30, he went to the Tuapeka Mount Hotel in company with Da\id Walsh, blacksmith, at Greenfield .station, and Alexander Connolly, the deceased. Walsh shouted drinks for the three. He (Mcßory) took port wine, Walsh took beer, but he does not know what Connolly took. Wal&h had a hor&3 tiod up outside, and on looking out to tee it he found it was gone ; he went with Wal&h to look for the horse, leaving Connolly in the bar. Home time after he was standing near Aulds otore, when Connolly came up to him and shouted out, "There is the b b ," and struck him with his fist, knocking him down. When on his back Connolly got on top of him and put his kneo across his neck. He tried to get from under him, but could not do &o. He then put his hand into his pocket and took out his knife, and stabbed Connolly with it Connolly, when stabbed, said. "Jhr, 1 did not think you would do that."

VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER. The inquest at Lawrence did not conclude till one o'clock this morning. The jury, after two hours' consultation, during which they twice asked the coroner for directions, returned a verdict of manslaughter, adding a rider that while Connolly's death was directly caused by stabbing in the groin, it vva? nevertheless expedited by the gro3s neglect and indifference of those about him. Dv Withers, in the course of his evidence, said the deceased would not have died had he recoived proper surgical treatment, a very moderate amount of which would have preventedhis death. A little judicious management would have prevented the bleeding. It was to him amazing that men should let a man dio through loss of blood, when by simply pressing a thumb on a vein they could havestopped the bleeding. They simply let the man bleed to death. The whole thing was mismanagement from beginning to end. Edmeads, the publican, denied being any party to the quarrel, or himself drunk on Sunday night.