R.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2642, 8 July 1887, Page 2

R.M. COURT.

MASTEETON-THUESDAY.

(Before Colonel McDonnell and W. H, Beetham, J.P.'s.) Stabbing Case. ;■• Thomas Hurley, a settler' of Wan' gaeliu, was charged with cutting, stab bing aud wounding John' Williamson at the Union Boarding House, Masterton, on the night of June 22nd. Sergeant Price conducted the prosecution and Mr Beard defended. The following evidence was heard after we went to press yesterday. Edward Braggins, public nigktwatchman, stated that on the night in question accused came up in a very excited state nea.r the Post Office, and told witness and Constable Cooper that someone had tried to rob him, and he had stabbed thera with aknife, the man was still bleeding at the Union Boarding House, and asked the policeman to send for a doctor. Witness accompanied thp constable to the Union Boarding House, and found Williamson with his trousers down and bleeding from a wound in his right groini The Constable wrested the accused, and witness went for a doctor.

By Mr Beard: Had known accused for about twelve years as a quiet, inoffensive man. Ha appeared more frightened than anything else when he rushed up near the Post office, Known

Williamson';/for >'about, six, months j had seen him liquor on one or two occasions," though not very .bad. . ■'■■'.'

.■'Alexander Gaming Milne, a medical practitioner, ; residing.- ats|ated.that about o'ne;Q'c|dck''?n' the morhihg. ,pf the -23rdl June,,, ha'waa sen't : for, and:'outgoing ,?.oardiug. House■ *'fottad V.the .'■- irian. .from n : .wound in (hY.tigU;groinV>Vitw'ag: a woiia'd, about iSfch. ; -'in /wuilb'AnJ 1|: inches>in';.dtfpth;:;^hioh ; : |i"a J i."'be9'n bleeding : ,very : free]yi„. but'; had Homewbat- 'stopped,.; 'when'.he; arrived. ',' The : .cut wentvstraight:in, v and was! very close; main artery. . There- '' were ' indicatidhs of inward '. bleeding ;under.> the akin. Had the artery been divided, fatal hermbrrage'would have ensued.. The wound could have been caused by suoh a knife as that' produced, Williamson appeared pale, •weak,' ..and greatly frightened, ..and witness dressed the wound, aud'left him apparently doing well. ..Had attended -Williamson since, andbelieved he was inowout'ofalldawer.,-'''

Charles Cooper, Constable, stationed at Masterton, was: oiv'dtity, near the ''Post Office, on the nijjbt in question, when accused came runuing ; up .in'an excited state, : saying he had been robbed in a Boarding House, and that he had stabbed a. man, and that witness had better son'df for. a dootori Witness accompanied accused to the AJm'ou Boarding House, where; ho found Williamson bleeding from a wound in his thigh,' which he'said Hurley had done. Accused had a knife in his hand, and handed : it to witness on being, asked for it. Ho then arrested .him on the elmrgo of stabbing Williamson. Williamson's olotbes were covered with blood, and the,floor was also stained.

By Mr Beard: Accused said he tad been set upon, and believed there were two or three assailants.' He said he would rather be ia the look-up, than in the Boarding-House he had just left. He searched him or arriving at the police station, and found £2lss lid.on him.. Had known Williamson since he had been in Mttstei'ton. : Had seen bim ou the evening of tho 22nd insfc-.j about 10 o'clock, and be appeared to bo drinking. .. The witness Peterson was recalled, undsaidko had known accused previous to June 22, but npyex. knew anything against him. Would liavo gone for. the police if Hurley had not. ■:

..'Mr.Beard addressed the Bench'on. behalf of the accused, and contended that his ..client, was ..awoke, from his sleep by Williamson tumbling •on top of bim, and it being dark, and in. a strange place, ho behoved he wus being plundered and murdered, and he struck out with the'knife. Ho had always been a quiet inoffensive ,mau, and was well known iu'ii.tbe district, and there was no - suspicion" of his having acted from malice. He refe/rred ,to tho two cases sent down from the Wairarapa to the.present crinihial sessions in Wellington, Which had both been thrown out by the Grand Jury, and asked the Bench to 'dismiss the case/ ". '■' -'■■'■: ■• -.; ;: •■-

After a brief consultation, tbe Bench decided that after having gone through the evidence, they did not think they were justiQed in sending tlm accused . for trial. They would recommend Petersen to be more careful in the ■■ future, ajyl hot sh6w strangers- I 'into a room where other people slept. The case was dismissed. -i . ' " ; -,". ..' .