THE BALFOUR SHOOTING CASE.
VERDICT OP WILFUL MURDER j EXTRAORDINARY CALLOUSNESS Dunedin, Wednesday. An inquest was held at Riversdale today on the body of Hugh Stewart, the victim of the Balfour shooting tragedy. A verdict was returned to the following effect:—‘This jury is unanimouslv. of opinion, after hearing the medical testimony and the evidence of other witnesses, that Stewart died from shock caused by a gun- shot fired by John Keown, and from blows subsequently inflicted by Keown. The j uipis also unanimously of opinion thatthe injures to Stewart which caused his death were wilfully inflicted by Keown. The jury adds as a rider that the witness John Hernaby is very much to blame for telling Keown where the gun was and supplying him with capsJ. .;Coroner Hawkins-said this was tantamount to a verdict of murder. s >
The evidence generally was on the lines of the statement previously telegraphed. A man named Hornsby, in the employment of Keown, deposed that.wheu the baliffs were approaching he told Keown that they were coming, that Keown asked where the gun was, that he told him, and also went, into the house, and brought caps to him. Hornsby saw the whole affair but did not protest until Keown had struck the wounded man four times on the head and body with the gun fielded in both hands. H s excuse was that being Keown’s servant he hold that he was bound to obey his orders. It was shown that Keown drank a bottle of whiskey on the day of the tragedy. Stewart was left on the ground for some time, then taken into a lean-to. laid on straw and blankets and sacks put over him.
■ Keown‘s household then dined and took no further notice of the desperately injured man, nor sent for medical aid The coroner said that Hornsby’s sense of right was the lowest of any man he had ever seen. Hornsby at one point refused to do more than answer direct questions, but a" threat of commitment subdued him. Keown will be brought up at the Gore Stipendiary Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. The terrible affair arose out of dispute as to the repair of a portable boiler engine. -•
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Te Aroha News, Volume XII, Issue 1754, 27 July 1895, Page 2
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366THE BALFOUR SHOOTING CASE. Te Aroha News, Volume XII, Issue 1754, 27 July 1895, Page 2
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