THE DEATH OF CAREY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1179, 27 November 1883, Page 3

THE DEATH OF CAREY.

GRAPHIC PICTURE OP THE SCENE. ' Continued. O’Donnell continued—- “ 1 distinctly recollect I gave a glance to see was it a pistol or a knife or what thing he drew ; but it was a revolver. When I whipped out mine with my right hand, my left hand gripped in hia collar being paralysed, I found my grasp on him gone, and that, with his strength, in two seconds I was beat. As he was crushing me down against the end of the table, seeing him put his pistol to my face I made a grab at it and fired. My belief is, though I may be mistaken, that at the moment I snatched or dashed the pistol out of his hand, as I fired ; or it may be it fell from him ; but it went on the floor six feet away. He rushed, partly stooping, as if to pick it up, and I fired again, not deliberately, for my life. I really thought 1 fired but the one.shot the second time, I tell you his son picked that pistol off the.floor afterwards, and there is not one word of truth in his story about getting it out of the bag.” “He certainly did not say he so got it when questioned by the second officer, but did anyone see him pick it up ?” ‘•I believe someone did, but there was the pistol on the floor and what has happened it ? The one taken from the young chap was a six-chamber with one barrel discharged.” “Do you mean to say Carey fired at you;?" “ I always thought he'didn't till I heard his revolver was found with an empty chamber. Even still I don’t know about that. I certainly felt no shot, and once I saw he was up to shooting I was not going to be last if I could help it.” “ Was your dispute with him loud ?” “ No; only we were looking back into one another’s eyes.” ‘, Did you make a great noise ?” ! “Of course we must have made some in our short scuffle, but not much. ’Twas all in a moment like."

"You knew there were people about V " I knew they were close about; bat perhaps no one was in the cabin at the beginning of the altercation but, my wife; and when she heard us nagging she went off round towards our berth ; but the minute she heard the first shot she rushed out and threw her arms around my neck, crying in alarm." " Was not Parish there 1"

"No; he was in his cabin till he heard the shots. I have an idea that aa the last shot was fired he was out and ran to hide under a settee ; but I was not fully facing that way. He swears falsely if he swears he was out before the first shot."

“ Was Jones, the boatswain, there 1” “He was at the top of the companion, on deck, just a moment before our dispute. If he was down, and was looking our way, he'd have seen. all I’ve told you.” “And young Carey 1” The prisoner smiled bitterly, and said, “ That young chap will come to trouble yet. Do you mean to tell me anyone could believe the story he told ?” “It is hard to say ; but unfortunately you have no persons to tell another.” “If they saw it they could. But surely they all don’t take me for a madman to do what that young fellow told in Court—that before them all I put out a pistol to his father standing over me, who could double me up in a jiffey, and without rhyme or reason began firing at him 1 I don’t believe any.juryman will listen to that, if I get fair law. I tell you I never touched a pistol till I saw my life in danger from ,a villain that had taken many a life before.” “ Did Mrs Carey come up to you 1” “ She did, and I was sorry for her, and I tell you I was sorry for the children. I took her hand and said, “ Mrs Carey, I had to do it in self-defence ; I did not do it otherwise.’ Then I quietly gave up of own accord my revolver to the officer, and held out my hands to b$ ironed.” “ Mrs Carey says you told her you were 4 sent to do it?’ ” “ Likely, she or her husband would say anyone was sent to do it; but I never said anything of the kind, 1 couldn’t say it. AH the other witnesses, everyone of them, says she swears false in this thing about what I said.”/ “ What about the things found in your trunk?" “ I had no newspaper things at all, except, I believe, a picture. I can’t read, and I had nothing but my citizenship papers. If my wife didn’t happen to have them, someone put those things in ray trunk. It was never locked The prisoner throughout expressed himself not alone hopefully as to bis acquittal, but ridiculed the possibility of any other result. He varied between anger and hilarity in talking of the allegation that the shooting was premeditated. “ Then they take me for an idiot, do they ? In a lew days more Carey and 1 would be ashore in the bush, and in fifty places where 1 could shoot him unknown if such a thing was in ray mind. I suppose they think I’d prefer to do it in a public cabin on board ship, with people all round, so that I might be hanged 1 Do they say I’m a madman or a fool ? No, sir ; if I get fair law I’ll be a free man before long.”