INQUEST.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 49, 29 April 1899, Page 1

INQUEST.

_ An inquest was held on Monday morning at the Studholme Juncton Hotel touching the death of Cuthbert Harold Walker, who was shot at Wamono Lagoon on Sunday, Apnl 23rd. Mr W. Coltinan acted as coroner. The following were sworn as a jury :— Messis W. J. Black, L. Toohers, H. E. Mann, Robert Clarke, D. Lowe, W. A. Osborne. Mr Black was elected foreman. After having viewed the body, the following e\ idence was heard :— Alfred Walker, sworn, said he was a carpenter lesiding at Waimate. The body shown to the jury was that of his son, Cuthbert Harold Walker. He was 18 years old on 27th Feb. last. Last saw him alive on Saturday morning between 7 and 8 o'clock. The gun produced was his son's, and was in good repair. Deceased had a thorough knowledge of firearms. Knew Ernest Hunt. Did not know the boys were going together till the evening, when he heard they had gone shooting. Thought they had gone out together befoie. They were the best of friends. Ernest Hunt, sworn, said he was 19 years of age, and was a stable boy by occupation. Left Waunate ;n company with C H. Walker on Saturday afternoon about 2 o'clock. Drove in a trap to Lake Wamono. They had a gun a piece. When they got to the flaxmill, deceased procured a boat and pulled up the river while witness went round bv the beach and met him. Witness got" out of the trap and shot at and wounded a swan. It swam near deceased, and he shot it. Walker rowed up the lake till they came to the camping place, where they pulled the boat ashore and took the horse out of the cart. They started to pitch the tent, but decided to cover it over the cart and sleep there. Each tooic a gun with him and rowed across the lake to fix their decoys, pulling into the rushes for that purpose. They waited till the ducks came overhead, and started shooting. Left at 8 o'clock, having shot two ducks and got tea at the trap. After this they cleaned the guns, and went to bed. Got up at 2.45 a.m. on Sunday morning and left for the decoys., Ariiving there they commenced shooting, but got nothing. Deceased fired four shots, and witness three. Waited till 7 o'clock, when they went to look for a duck they had shot during the night, but did not find it. Went back and pulled out the decoys, and left to go to the cart for breakfast. Deceased was rowing and witness was sitting in the stern of the boat, when some swans flew oveihead. Deceased stopped the boat, and said " Give me my gun, get your gun ready and we'll have a shot." Handed deceased his quo, and in receiving it he turned his back to witness. Witness was pulling up the hammer of his own gun, when it fell, and the light barrel went off. The shot struck Walker on the left side of the head, and he fell into the bottom of the beat, dead. The gun was loaded in both barrels with No. 2 shot. Did not know what to do then. Couldn't row, but paddled as best he could out of deep water, till he could walk and drag the boat. Got out and pushed the boat ashore. Harnessed up the horse, tied the wheel of the trap and tried to lift the body in. This took a long time, but he managed it at last. Covered the body up on arriving at the tent, and put the guns and other articles in the cart. Then drove along the beach, and when turning

towards the flaxmill met a crippled mail. Asked if there was anyone at the flaxmill. Ho answered that there was, and asked what was wrong. Told lain, and then drove to near the fkxmill, where he met Smart, Griffin, and Sinclair. Asked one of them to come in with him, but no one of them cared to come into the trap. Went into the flaxmill, and there were two bojs and two men there. Asked for one ot these to go with him, but none of these cared to come. Witness asked them what was the best thing to do, and they advised that the body be taken straight home. Had, therefore, to drive on himself, and near the Studholme railway line he met two men, Williams and McLeod, on bicycles. Asked one of them to go to Waimate for Constable Parker and tell him that young Walker was shot and also to tell the dead boy's father. They refused to go and said he had best telegraph from the Junction. Drove to the Junction Hotel. There was a youug fellow outside with a bicycle and told him to send Mr Mann outside. Mrs Mann came out and asked what was the matter. Told her and just then Mr Mann came out and sent for the police, who came and removed the body from the trap. Was always on good terms with deceased. Had never been out shooting with him before. To Constable- Parker : Was sitting in the stern of the boat, deceased about the middle, rowing, and theiefoie facing witness. The muzzle of the gun would be about three feet from deceased's head when it went off. (Witness showed his position by means of a diagram). To the foreman : All the parties asked for assistance said they didn't like being with the body. Distinctly asked Williams and McLeod to go for the police but they refused. H. C. Barclay, duly qualified medical practitioner. Waimate, sworn, said he saw body of deceased. There was evidence of a compound communated fracture of the skull, the scalp being lacerated from back to front, all along the left side. The brain case was shattered on the opposite side as well. The brain case was practically emptied. Death was instantaneous and absolutely painless. Thought the gun had been fired near to deceased's head. Most of the shot had passed through the head. Constable Parker, sworn, said he was a police constable stationed at Waimate. At 10 a.m. on the 28rd, J. Jacobs reported to the police that a young man named Walker had been shot at the Junction. In company with Constable Gough, witness came to Studholme and found the body of deceased lying in a cart on his right side. Removed the body to the hotel. Ernest Hunt handed witness two guns and some ammunition. The gun produced he stated to be his and in witness's opinion it was in bad repair. Went to the lake with others and examined the boat, in which there was a quantity of blood aud brains. On the young man Hunt's coat shoulder there was a, quantity of blood, which he stated came from lifting deceased into the trap. There were no suspicious circumstances in the matter. To the foreman : The conduct of Hunt was very good after the accident. There was no means of communicating with Waimate save by road. A,t t some time spent in consultation the jury returned the verdict : — _ " That C. H. Walker met his death accidentally by a gun shot wound at the hands of Ernest Hunt, and that no blame attaches to any one," and as a rider "The jury are of the opinion that Ernest Hunt

did everything possible under the circumstances after the accident. The jury aie of the opinion that the conduct of those persons who refused to assist Hunt with the body, and particularly that of Williams and McLeod in refusing to inform the police, is deserving of the severest censure.

To " dance attendance " is an expression bon-jwed from the mediaeval custom which compelled the bride at a wedding to dance with whomsoever asked her. No matter how Jow the condition or how objectionable the person, the bnde could not lefuse.