THE INQUEST. Wellington, June 3.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 374, 5 June 1889, Page 5

THE INQUEST. Wellington, June 3.

Ab the inquest on the body of Hawkins, his wile gave evidence that about two months ago hedeclared when he came home that he was much put out because Louis Chemis, the man who worked on the road, had sworn at him and said he would have him yet. There was a law suit pending in respect of a fifty acres section rented from her husband by Chemis. One witness deposed that the shots wore not likely to be heard, as the wind was blowing away from the nearest house. Dr. Cahill said as soon as he noticed stabs he suspected murder, but said nothing until the body was taken to the morgue. There he found a large number of stabs, one of which divided the jugular vein. The wounds were thick about the neck and shoulders, and appeared to be made from above and forward. One cut severed the lower jaw-bone; On the trunk there were more than a dozen other stabs. In fact the corpse was slashed all over. There was also a gunehot wound in the lower, part, of the neck immediately above the shoulder. One stab penetrated to the heart. All the wounds were clean cut, and he believed they were produced by a double-edged weapon. They were all broader at the surface than in the interior of the body. Ho believed the instrument must have been sharp, two edged, tapering andsbrong, at least five inches in length. He believed portions had been shot off bhecoab and veat, and must) have been torn away

by a bullet fired from above which passed through the coat and struck the knife or something hard in the vest pocket. There wasacontusioncorrespondingwith where the knife would have been hit from behind. The shot must have been fired when both were on a level and not two yards away. Many of the wounds would have caused death almost immediately. The inquest was adjourned for a week.

THE DAGGER. At the inquest, Inspector Thomson produced the dagger found by the police* (without mentioning how it was obtained)* and asked Dr. Cahill whether the wounds could have been produced by that weapon. Dr. Cahill said : Yes. any of the stabs could have been inflicted with it.