Wednesday.-(Before Mr Northcroft, R.M.) The Matamata Wounding Case.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2086, 19 November 1885, Page 2

Wednesday.- (Before Mr Northcroft, R.M.) The Matamata Wounding Case.

Wim.iam H\M *N was charged with unlawfully, maliciously, and feloniously vending onu Kdnard Matthias, by stnkinghim on the head and face with a shove), with intent to do griev. us bodily harm, &c, me»r Matamata on the 10th Hint. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and hoped the matter would be dealt with summarily. Ho was extremely sorry for what he had done, «nd h.id h»d no intention to inflict as much bodily harm. Sert't. -Major MdJovern, who conducted the prosecution, s.iid the injured man was now sufficiently recovered to Ruo his ondence, «nd ho would therefore go on with the ease. Kdward Matthias deponed: I am a l.ilx.urar employed by Mr l'allon. I know the accused, who was working m the i*mn gang with me. I remember nothing that to«k place betweon the night of the Hth and the follow ing Thursday morning, tho 12th. I mints to my senses in Browns Hotel at Moninoville. I found I had been wounded fimu the right temple down to tho chin, but I had no recollection of how it had been done. I know nothing of thf circutnstuices oxcept by lie.irs.iy. I had always been on friendly terms w ith the accused, and lud nerer liad any dispute or quarrel with him. I remember seeing him at woik on the !tth, but saw nothing of him -nice until yesterday. Ido not remember the doctor dre-mng my wound on the 10th. By tho prisoner : I do not roincmbcr going to the billy foi water. ])i. Waddington deponed . On the 10th of November 1 was at Hannlton, and at the re(iucst of the police I went to Mornns\illo; on arming there found that Matthias the injured man, had been brought down bv the ballast train. Hew(s lying in the railwaj tiucW m a linlf com.i-t-ivi! nt.ite. Ih id him r> iihd ed to Brow n s Hot. 1, wheie I examined hi- head. I found he was suffering from a soveee wound extending from the middle of the temple to the angle of the lower jaw. He was only partially sensible, and I put in a number of stitches, mid closed the wound. Tho bone* of the faco were not injured, though tho bone, of the. upper jaw was completely exposed. He wan Buffering from a Kymptnm of concussion of the brain, evidently from the violence of the blow. T wan shown a shorthandled shorel, which might ha\e inflicted tho wound. The angle of the shorel must have struck the injured man's face, as the lower part of the wound was much deeper than the upper p.ut. The wound might h.uo co«t tho man his life. I h.ivebeen attending bun since. The wound has healed very well, and I con-ider him to be out of danger. John Holmes, a labourer in tho omploj went of Mr Fallon, depo-ed : I know the accused and Matthias, and was working with them. On Tuesday, the 10th of this month, I was working near M.itamat.i ; both accused and tho injured man were there. There was no dispute or quarrel between the men on that day. Between 11 and 12 o'clock I saw Matthias going to Hanlan's billy, and as Matthias wan drinking Haitian, who was working with a shovel [produced], went up to him nnd struck him down. Matthias was iiisena'ble .m<l bleeding, and I and others went and picked him up. Accused dropped the shovel. Subsequently we got a tiuck and took both men to Morrins\ille. Accused .said he was " not a man to be made simple of, and they shouldn't sup out of his billy." That was all he said. By prisoner : It is not usual for a man to drink out of another man's billy. I heard you say that you had no tea, and that the water was a nubstttute for it. By Mr MetJovein: I did not hoar the accused say an j thing to Matthias as he walked up. Could not say whether any warning was given. To the Court : Accused came up in a rage and knocked Matthias down in a moment. John McKlroy deposed : T am a libourer employed bj Mr Fallon. I know Hanl.in and Matthias who were working with me. On the 10th m-t. we were working between MaUmata and Mornnsville. 1 saw M.ittlu.vs go to Hmil.mi's billy and pick it up. Hanlaii left his work and, winging out to Matthias t<> drop tho billy, struck hi«i with his *ho\cl. The blow wat« a sevens one. He v.ih standing on Matthias's right «ide when he struck him. The blow w.is given with the faco of the shovel. H -Milan had li ft bis billy in tho truck the night before, and had no tea with him that day. Before- tho occurrence there was no qu.in el between tho two men. They were good friends as far as I know. 1 did not hear the accused make any observations .vftei wards. H.ml.ui lud onlj about five yards to walk after he called out to Matthias to drop tho billy. Cannot say whether Matthias heard him. Tho blowwas hti nek directly the accused got up to him. Matthias was in the act of dunking. To the Court : I think the blow was w il j lul and deliberate. Constable Wild deposed that ho went to Momnsvilln on the 10th, in company with l)i. Wnddmgton, and fiom what he heard ' he apprehended tho prisoner on tho present charge. I'iisoner made no statement. This was the e.we for tho prosecution. )l\* Worship, addressing tho prisoner, R.ud he had promised to consider whethei ho could deal with tho case munuiiril}. Kven if hrt had the power to do this, »s ho had not, he would prefer to lrue the caso in tho h.mds of the Supieinu Court. Tho pi isonor, who reserved his defence, was then fully committed to take hi» tnal at tht next sitting of tho Supreme Coutt.

Tiih Chitioge loan of 40,000,000 dollars is to be divided between London and ]seilin. Tlie amount to be raised is intended for the construction of the proposed lailwny near l'ekin, from T«\l%u to Tinichow. Tlie oponing up of China by means of the iron horse is a new departure, and is e\ itlence that a, moic enlightened spirit has begun to animate the hitheito narrow national policy of the C'ouit of I'ekin The expansion of trade which must follow the introduction of i ail ways must be something enormous in a ctuutry like China.