SUSPECTED FOUL PLAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 130, 23 May 1908, Page 2

SUSPECTED FOUL PLAY.

THE WES'i'POIIT CASE. JXQCEST RESUMED. Per Press Association. Westport, Last Night,

At the iidjouriKid inquest touching tlie death of ICdnimitl John Burke, held to-night, Connolly, brass boy on the s.s. Talune, said lie -and another brass hoy, Win. Murray, of the s.s. .Rosamond, wen; together at Quaker's Hotel, having had several drinks at different hotels. They saw llalimen and Anderson on the steamer C'anopus, and jlalimoit asked witness to go to Ayer's Hotel and bring u man out to whom lie had given tobacco and fur which lie had not received payment. Jlalimen gave witness sixpence when he went to Ayev'-s and brought 11-ourke outside, when they were joined by Halimen and Ander>on. '.Che loriiu'r asked Honrke v yi ' money l'ir tobacco. Jle had given IJouvke, who had been drinking, u good deal. Me had none. The four went over to AlcLaughiin's stabios, where witness said Jlalimen struck liOurke, who again said he had n;o money. Witness also i ■struck JJourko lightly with his partially I closed fist. Jionrke /ell down and Hali- j men kieked him Several t'mes, witness ! calling him a coward for doing so. Halimen took oil" one of liourke's byits to seed if any money was in it, and also unlaced the other. Witness saw lfalimen pass something to his pocket, but could not say what it was t>i- where he got what he had in his hand. He heard Jionrke's shirt and hip pocket being torn. Witness. Ilalimeji and Anderson •shortly afterwards left the building, i When they returned to the hotel lm "ha? I sonic drink, and later, when he heard a policeman ringing up, made inquiries, and returned to the stables with two bottles of hot water, putting them on liourke'a chest, but the doctor, who was also there, pronounced him dead. Witness then went to a iish shop for supper, but -struck a girl. He was turned out and broke a window, cutting hi.s;, hand badly. He was later arrested',' and got eight days'. Witness, who is only IS years of age, admitted several previous convictions for being drunk and disorderly. He told the sergeant and the police a diil'erent story to try to shield the men, it lso because ' Halimen had threatened to "d\>" fur him if he told what he knew. ']] is present statement wa* line. Witness was severely cniss-e.\aiiiine([ liy (he jury, hut adhered dux'ly to the account given on oath. •His statement was enmoborated by Murrav.