FATAL ROADSIDE AFFRAY.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 403, 14 November 1868, Page 2

FATAL ROADSIDE AFFRAY.

It was recently reported that a man named John Levill, while on the way from G-reymouth to Christchurch, was shot at Craigieburn, while asking food at a station. We now learn from the Press that an inquest was held on his body at Mr Campbell's station, Craigieburn, on Tuesday last. It seems that about noon of that day he went to the station, and asked the chief shepherd lor employment. The latter told him that no hands were wanted, and Levill then asked for " tucker." He was offered some flour both by the shepherd and the cook, but refused to take anything but bread and meat, which it was not convenient to give him. An altercation ensued, and Levill finally went away, but returned to the hut a few minutes afterward, bringing a bulldog with him. On this occasion he i was very violent, and -got into a hot altercation with the cook, whose name is Pepperiil. The latter then armed himself with a double-barrelled gun, and threatened to shoot deceased if he did not keep out of the kitchen. A struggle ensued, during which Levill strove to wrest the gun out of Pepperill's hand. The barrel almost immediately went off or was fired off, but j did. no mis chief; some of the shots from the second, however, which was discharged directly after, entered Levill's breast and thigh, and resulted in his death na hour afterwards. The following statement made by the deceased was read : —" My name is John Levill, of Lewis Town, county of AYexford, Ireland. I have now come from Creymouth, county of Westland. I left on the 24th inst,, and intended to to go to Christchurch. I arrived here this day, and asked for a job of work, and was told there was no work. I then, asked for a feed, and the cook told me ho could only give me flour. I asked for bread, as I did not want to stop ; and asked for something to feed my dogs, to keep them out of mischief. Ho said if they did any harm he would shoot them. He then told me to go away, and I gave him a shove. This was outside. The cook then ran in, and came to the door with a gun. I then went to the door and said, ' Shoot me, for it is as well to die as to go hungry." He then fired at me, and the charge went through my thigh. I was about two feet from the muzzle of the gun. I then staggered to the door, when he fired the second barrel at me, which struck me in the right breast. He fired the second shot directly after the first, and said directly after he did not want to kill me, but only to frighten me." The jury returned a verdict of " Manslaughter, with greatly extenuating circumstances."