DEATH OF EVANS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 16 December 1912, Page 5

DEATH OF EVANS

VERDICT RETURNED, J USTIFIABLE HOMICIDE. f j.twym.pu— i'rtiH d.*v«-.ukCton.y WAIHI Lust Night.. . The inquiry, touching the death of Evans, was concluded yesterday, before Mr W. M. Wallnutt, coroner, several further witnesses being examined. The coroner, in reviewing the .evidence of the exhaustive inquiry, pointed out that the scope of the coroner's court applied only to tho manner and cause of death, and unlike tho judicial proceedings, had no concern with the circumstances, apart from these material facts. He then traversed at length tho voluminous evidence adduced, which went to show that there had not been a preconcerted plan on the part of workers to raid the Waihi Miners' Union 'Hall, on November 12th, but that their action in- so doing, hadi followed on tho discharge of lethal weapons from within. Although the statements of witnesses' were naturally conflicting, the Weight of evidence went to show that Constable Wade had, in. the execution of his duty, pursued and struck down the deceased, who had previously fired upon him, and was justified in so doing, because ho had reason to helieve that his own life, and that of others was in danger. The coroner then stater]- that tho legal position as to justifiable homicide, and after a retirement of forty minutes, a verdict was returned as follows: —"That the jury are of the unanimous opinion that tli© deceased, Frederick George Evans, mot with death as the result of a blow from a batoni, delivered by ■Constable Gerald Wade, on tho morning of 12th November, at the back of the Waihi Minors' Union Hall Waihi, whilst in the execution of his duty, and that he ("Constable Wade) was fully justified in. striking the deceased down.