THE WELLINGTON MURDER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 315, 5 January 1909, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON MURDER

THE INQUEST. By Xelegmph,—l'rcss Association. Wellington, Last Night. Tiro inquest on the body of the man found murdered ut Courtcnay Place early on the morning of December 27th, was concluded to-day. The evidence was mainly in regard to the identity 01 vw deceased. i Sydney Millott, seaman on theWWa- t kare, said he was formerly on the ship Dartford. He knew a member of the j crew named llcCormick. Witness didn't | know his Christian name. He was usually called "Mac." The clothing in , the morgue he recognised as being the , property of the man McCormiek. m the police station he saw a bag which belonged to McCormiek. In it were two ties which witness had given to the man when he sailed with him in the Dartford about three months ago. Witness saw JleC'orinick in Lyttelton. He recognised the photograph (produced) as that of McCormiek (the picture was

a photograph of the dead man). Chas. Gray, seaman on the Mararoa, formerly on the Dartford, said he identilied a body in the morgue on Saturday evening as that of a man named MrC'oriniek. at one time seaman on the Dartford' Three days after witness signed off the Dartford, on llth October last, he saw McCormiek going to l.yttellon by the Maori. A week later witness saw the deceased in Wellington. He had arrived by the Hippie. In replv to Inspector Kllison, witness said he hud no doubt whatever about the identity of the body. John lirodoius, seaman, now employed on the Maori, but formerly on the Dartford, gave similar evidence. Edward .Morrison, A.II. on the Maori, stated that he was formerly on the schooner Annie Hill. The body he saw at the morgue on Saturday was that of a man named McCormiek, who was

paid oil' the Annie Hill on Christmas Eve at Lyttelton. McCormiek was 4:1 days on the Annie Hill, and would hare received £1 IDs when paid off. Witness stated that deceased left the Dartford about 15th Ocober. He saw MeCormick several times in Lyttelton. After stayin" there for about two weeks he joined 'the steamer Ripple for a trip, and later worked on the Annie Hill, trading between Kaipara and Lyttelton. On Christmas Eve deceased left Lyttelton and eame to Wellington as a passenger by the Maori. Witness saw him aboard in company with a ship-mate named Draidford. 'Witness knew they left tlieir bags on the wharf, but he never heard further of them. Braidford had, however, mentioned that he intended going to Auckland. Deceased took liquor free-

ly when ho had money, and when he was "under the influence" he was very "soft," and could be led anywhere. MeCormick once,mentioned that he belonged to Liverpool. William Mullin, A.B. on the Aotca, formerly on the Dartford, gave evidence of identification similar to that of the last witness. Knew a seaman named Braidford on the Dartford. He saw Braidford on the morning of Boxing Day in Manners street before 7 o'clock. He hailed witness, and said he was going to Auckland that morning if ho could get his bag from the' left-luggage office at the wharf. In the meantime Braidford said he was first going to see "Mac" (meaning McCormick) to say "Goodbye," and indicated that he was going in the direction of Courtcnay Place, saying "We are living down this way." Detective Cassels gave evidence concerning the bags which were left at the wharf. He ascertained from n shipping olliee that a sailor named McCormick was discharged from the Dartford on October 15. He gave his age as 132 years. The jury returned a verdict that deceased came by his death by violence at the hands of some person or persons unknown.