DRINKING TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 31, 5 February 1910, Page 15

DRINKING TRAGEDY.

DEATH OF FOUR MEN AFTER AN ORGY. A lamentable drinking orgy, resulting ii the death of four men, has occurred at Wicnn, Lancashire. On Tuesday night, Dec. 21, Mr James Blacltledge, the landlord of the Roebuck Hotel, Stnudishgate, Wigan, desired the removal of some spirit cases in one of the cellars of the hotel. He secured the services of eight men who were in the pub-lic-house. The licensee was then called nway, and he left an employee in charge of the men. The men, the police report states, freely Indulged In some proof brandy, which they drank from a half-pint glaes, with the result that four of them subsequently died. Their names are William Fairhurst, 44; JohD Balshaw, 41; Thomas MeKeverlgan. 40; and John Shaw, about 48. After lie returned from the cellar Fairhurst complained of pains near his heart. He was given a little brandy. As he grew worse a medical man was summoned, but Fairhurst died on Tuesday night. Sha.w was discovered in the coal-house, and he was carried Into the hotel and put to bed. The landlord found him dead In the bed In the morning, and about the ( same time Balshaw was discovered dead outbuilding of the hotel. McKeverigan returned to his aornt, whtrt lb« txplred at boob.