THE WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13005, 6 January 1908, Page 4

THE WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TEIBOBAM.) WELLINGTON, January 5. An inquest was held yesterday, bo. fore the District Coroner, Mr James Ashcroft, and a jury of six, on the body of William McNally, concerning whoso death James M. Sheridan standa charged with murder. Sub-Inspector O'Donovan appeared for the police, and Mr Gray for the accused. The ovidence indicated that deceased, a wharf labourer, received his pay (£1 17s) about two hours before the fatality, when he appeared to be suffering from the effects of drink. Dr. Henry said there were no marks on the body to account for death. The skull was uninjured, and there was no bleeding. Dr. Fyffe, who had made an autopsy, said that after the removal of the skull oap/ hemorrhage waa seen under the dura mater on both lateral surfaces of tlio brain. Witness found blood running right down the epinal cord. All along the base of tlie brain blood waa effused. Blood had escaped from the lateral ventricles ot" the brain into tho base of the brain. With tbe exception of tho brain, tlio organs were those of a healthy, man. There waa some fluid smelling of alcohol in the stomach. Tho cause "of death was hemorrhage of the brain, due to a fall or blow, when tho vessels were probably congested by alcoholic excess. It was impossible that the hemorrhage could have been caused in any way except by violence. Dr. Henry said he agreed with Dr. FyffeVi opinion a* to the cause of death; Racharl McNally, wife of. tfier do-. ceased, said her husband at tne time of his death waa forty years of age. She last saw her husband at 7.30 on Thursday evening, at their residence in Little Pipitea .street; :He had intended to get his hair cut* iut did not return that night. McNally had been perfectly sober «ver. " 6ir_ee witness's narrioge with, him on July.2nd of last year. He had not complained of being mixed up in any row. Deceased possessed a watch and chain. Witness 1 recognised tho watch-chain and locket (produced) as her husband's property, and the watch (produced) was just liko that owned by her husband. McNally did not complain of being unwell before he went oub on Thursday evening. He had a good tea, and had worked steadily during the week, with i the exception of the holidays. i Walter, George Smart, pawnbroker, stated that tho watch-chain and locket produced were pawned at his office between 10 and 11 a.m. on Friday by James Sheridan, who was not accompanied by anyone, and made no representations about the ownership of the goods pledged. • Evidence was given by eye-witnesses of the occurrence mainly on the lines of the information telegraphed on Friday evening. Two witnesses agreed that Sheridan appeared to be looking after McNallj Constable Claj-, who arrested Sheridan, stated that on tho way to tho police station he (witness) cautioned the prisoner. Sheridan said: "I never meant to kill him. I met him during the morning in company with some firemen. I saw he waa wasting bis money on them, and I tried to get him away. I got him away after a time, and then he insisted on fighting mc. He struck mc several times. At last T lost my temper, and I struck him in return with my open hand, and he fell down. When X noticed him getting white I ran away. Don't tell mc ho is dead, for I never meant to kill him." Sergeant Kelly, who examined Sheridan at the station, said accused possessed half a crown. .Sheridan told witness he and deceased had been drinking together. Deceased gave a stranger five shillings, and accused took him away, to prevent him giving away all his money. The jury returned the following verdict:—"That deceased met his death from an effusion of blood on tho'brain caused by a blow delivered by Sheridan, or by t fall consequent on that blow."