THE INQUEST.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7262, 23 January 1889, Page 2

THE INQUEST.

The inquest was held in the Chertsey Hotel this afternoon, before Mr A. C. Wray, District Coroner, and a jury of whom Mr J. Wells was chosen foreman, The following evidence was taken:— Sergeant Felton deposed that at 3 p.m. on the 17tb instant Francis Fahey came to the police station at Ashburton in a hot and excited state, and. said that he had run up from Chertsey, a distance of twelve miles. Fahey said that bis wife had left him that morning, he supposed because he had been cross the night before hi consequence of the children making a noise. He said that he had searched for her. but could find no trace, and he supposed she must have gone to Timaru or Christchurch. Re asked witness if he would take out a warrant against his wife for deserting her family, and stated that he had three children, and that he intended leaving his home at four o'clock next morning to look, for her, either at Holmes' or Coster's, where be had worked before, and then the police could take his family and send them to Burnham. Witness told him not to go away till Constable Black, of Rakcia, came up in the morning to make enquiries about his wife. Fahey said that he would remain at his house till the constable came. Fahey left the police station about 4 p.m. He was crying, and said that he felt heart broken, and could not live without his wife, who was a good woman, and that for her sake he did not drink now, not having taken liquor for six weeks. Fahey appeared to bo quite sensible, but much hurt about his wife leaving him. He spoke affectionately about nis wife and children, but admitted striking the former about six weeks, ago, but promised that he would not do it again. He was perfectly sober when he left and showed no Indication of having taken any liquor. He said he was thirtysix years of age, his wife thirty-four and he bad been married ten years. His wife's maiden name was Wallace and she had been cook for Mr Loughnan at Christchurch. Witness next saw deceased in a room at the Chertsey Hotel, deceased having just expired. Witness searched the body and found a six-chamber revolver and half a dozen cartridges In one pocket, 14s 4d in money, a knife, pipe and tobacco. One chamber of the revolver was loaded. There was a bullet hole through deceased's hat,n-

Margaret Thompson, a widow, living at the village settlement, deposed that she knew Mary Fahey, the deceased, who came to her house about nine o'clock yesterday morning. Witness asked her to nave tea, but she refused, and said that she could not live any longer with her husband, as he had treated her badly. She then asked witness to lend her a shawl, so that she might go to Rakaia, where she intended complaining to the constable. Witness advised her not to go, but she persisted. Witness gave her fourpence to make up her train fare back from Rakaia. Witness saw her again about seven o'clock in the evening after she had walked back from Rakaia. She refused some tea, saying that she had some at. Welsh's. She said that she would not go home, but would stay with witness. About half-past eight in the evening witness met the husband, who asked where his wife was. She tried to induce him to live quietly with his wife, but did not say where she was. He was crying violently, and went towards his house, about thirty chains off. He was perfectly, sober, but appeared much agitated at not knowing where his wife was. That morningde-. ceased got out ot bed about 7.30. Witness looked out of the door, but saw nothing about then. A quarter of an hour afterwards witness looked out again, and saw Fahey, who was laughing- loudly, running towards the house. Prior to this Airs Fahey wanted money to go to Christchurch. When Fahey was running towards the house witness advised the wife to bide under the sofa in the kitchen. Fahey entered the house and searched for bis wife. Mrs Fahey refused to go home with her husband, saying, "No, Frank; I willnOtgo home with you* You are not a wise man." He then coaxed her to come from under the sofa, and Said that he would give her all the money he had In his pocket. He then handed her his purse, and said that she need not open it, as he had paid the money he owed the auctioneer. She gave him back the purse after she Tfciad opened it. She remarked, "You have not drunk so much; you have not drunk anything." Witness then advised them to go home together. Just after the express train had come in Fahey looked outside the door, and seeing Constable Black approaching he said. He's coming ; don't go outside, Mary." Fahey wanted to close the door, but witness requested him not to do so. Mrs Fahey tried to go outside, but her husband tried hard to prevent her, and in doing so caught her underneath his arm, and in the struggle both got outside. Witness heard Mrs Fahey scream, and then saw that Fahey had his arm around his wife's neck. He had a revolver in his hand, and pointing it at his wife's head fired two shots in rapid succession. Witness then ran Out to hasten Constable Black, when she heard a third shot fired, and thought Fahey had fired at her (witness). She heard another shot -fired, but on looking round could see no one. A fifth shot was fired, and when witness looked round again she saw Fahey lying on. his back on the road. While Fahey was in witness house that morning he talked very foolishly, .and .told, his wife that if she liked he would do away with himself. He had made no threats against his wife, and witness had no idea he had a revolver in his hand. Witness thought the man was not quite right in his mind • -pr J. M. Tweed deposed to having been asked by the police to go to Chertsey. On arrival he found a man and woman lying dead in the Chertsey Hotel.

Constable BJack deposed that at midday on the previous day Mary Fahey came to Rakaia and made a complaint against her! husband, and he arranged to go up to Chertsey the next morning. The witness received a communication in the evening from Sergeant Felton with reference to Francis Fabey, asking him to make inquiries. He arrived at Chertsey the next morning by the express train, and when about six or seven, chains from Mrs Thompson's house he saw Fahey and his wife struggling in the doorway. The woman was screaming. Fahey fired two ■ at hear while holding her. She fell to- the ground, and Fahey taking a deliberate aim fired a third shot at her. "Mrs Thomson was running away from the. house screaming. Witness ran towards the with all haste, Fahey in the meantime coming off the section on to the road. Witness, held up his arms and shouted, so as to attract Fahey's attention, he looked towards witness and mattered something, which was inaudible.' Fahey then pointed the revolver at his head and fireda shot, but it did not take effect. Before witness could get up to him, Fahey fired a second shot and then fell to the ground, witness being close upon him By this time. The revolver had dropped from Fahey's hand and witness took possession of it. Fahey appeared to be dead, and witness then ran up to where the woman was lying and found her quite dead. Witness went to some platelayers who were working on the Railway close by, and requested their assistance to convey the bodies to the hotel. On getting back to Fahey witness found him still alive, and immediately telegraphed to Aahbarton for Sergeant Felton and medical assistance. Dr. Tweed and the Sergeant afterwards arrived by the midday train. The Coroner, in addressing the jury, said that to his mind there appeared no doubt that the unfortunate woman had been deliberately murdered, and that the suicide of the murderer was equally determined. A Juryman suggested that they might obtain evidence as to where Fahey had procured the revolver, but the Coroner replied that no object could ba gained by this, seeing that the man was dead. . The jury, after a brief consultation, returned a verdict that Mary Fahey had been wtSfttßy murdered by her husband, Francis Fahey; with respect to Fahey himself; a verdict of fefo de as wa»; setunieda'