INQUEST. (FROM THE "TARANAKI HERALD.")

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 2075, Issue XX, 14 March 1864, Page 3

INQUEST. (FROM THE "TARANAKI HERALD.")

An inquest was held on Monday, befoie J. Plight, Esq., ItM., coiouei, at the Kew hospital, Gillstieet, ou the body of Mr. Geoige Patterson, who was shot and tomahawked by the natives ou Sunday last. The following jurois were sworn : — Mossrs. W. Tattou (foi eman), \V. Mai tin, Thomas Gledhill, W. Paynter, James bhaw, John Shaw, David Nicholls, Thomas Oxeuham, Thomas Allen, E. W. Hollis, W. J. Wells, 0. 0. Spindle. The following evidence was adduced :—: — Thomas Edward Eawson, M D., being sworn, said : lam Colonial Surgeon for Taranaki. I have examined the body of George Patteison. I found three bullet wounds through the body — one entering the left hip, coming out, haviug passed through the bowels, on the light of them ; another entering the chest, jnbt below the breast; the third passed through the fleshy pai t of the light aim into the chest, in the direction of the heait I consider that either of tho wounds I have described would, have pioved fatal. Any one would have brought him from his horse in a state of insensibility. There were two large wounds on the skull, produced by a blnnt instrument, probably a tomahawk ; one thiough the left eye across the nose, and through the skull into the brain. I believe these two wounds were given when deceased was on the ground, and m a state of insensibility. Either of the two wounds in the skull is sufficient to cause immedi ite death The thud bullet I believe to be still m the body Waltei Bi&hop, being snoin, «aid I was in company yesteiday mormuc;, the 2Sth Febiuaiy, with Mr. Patteison. I left town to go back to Mr. Pattersons place with William Bishop, Christopher Hurktone, aud Stephen Eva. Mr. Patterson overtook us on the load near Mr. Tattou's laud. He was ndiug on hoiseback. I took down the bais for him to go through We went on together to near Mr. Burton's ; he theD rode on before us as far at Mr. Dingle s — beyond Mr. Dingle's house. lie was then about 150 yaids ahead of us. I saw him turn round and holdup his hand, I suppose to wain us that Maoris weie there. I saw some Maoris crawling along by the side of a fiuze hedge. I saw Mr. Pattersou turn the head of his hoi =;e again towards the bush. The Maoris were then between Mr. Patterson aud my«elf. I then, with the other three men that were with me, lan back, and I did not again lee Mr. Pattersou a'lve After I turned back, iv abont a minute, I heaid about eight or ten guns fired, and immediately * yell. I then thought Mr. Patterson was shot. In abont a minute after the Maoris fired ou us and chased us, firing until we got to Tattou's field. My brother than fired a rifle, and the uatives stopped from pursuing us. They then fired a volley, but came no farther. I think Mr. Patterson had a revolver with him, but I did not see it. There was only oue rifle amongst our party, the one I had. My brotheiitook it from, me to fire at the natives. Eva had a revolver with, him, but it was of no use ; he could not get it to go off. When we saw the Maoris first I believe that had I fiied we might have been all cut off by the natives. William Bishop sworn, said : I was one of the party going yesterday morning with Mr. Patterson. • He overtook us, and theu rode on ahead of us about 150 yards. I saw him stop and then turn round his horse, wave his hand thiee times as I thought an a signal for ns to go back. Immediately after I saw four Maoris to the left of the road ; we then, turned back. At that time I saw Mr. Patteison coming after us, but after we got to the bottom of the hill we saw no more of him. We retired into Mr. Tatton's field, the Maoris fired a volley at ns from Billings' as we were going across the field. I stopped to fire two shots, and then Hurlstone came ap to me. I fired oue shot after that. The Maoris stopped punuing us whin I fired the two nhots.

I did not see that Mr. Patterson had any aims •with Mm The only arms we had were, one revolver and a rifle. Eva tried to fire his revolver, but could not make it go off. I saw the Maoiia ■who fired the volley m Mr. Billings' field. I can not say how many theie were. I guess from the number of guns that went off they might be twenty or thirty. The Maons who retired went into Bil lings' bush. When I saw Mr. Patterson coming after us he was cauteuug his horse. The horse was shot in the neck, and w hen I\\ ent out again it as

dead. William Eva being sworn, saul : I was one of a paity of eight, yesterday, to see what had happened to Mr. Patteison. We had heard the guns, and went off as fast as w e could go. We found the body of Mr. Patterson alongside the load, just m fiont of the gap near wlicie Mr Dingle's house once stood. The horse was lying in the t lad dead. We found Mr Pattersons body with the belly towards the giound , his boots were gone and his cap He had. on his militia shirt and trowsers and socks I did not see anj one examine his pockets He was quite dead when we came up. I was at No 3 blockhouse when I heaid the shots filed The hoise when we found it, was, lying with his head towards the tow n. Verdict. — That the said George Patterson, on Sunday, the 2Sth Februaiy, 1564, at Fianldey-ioad in the province of TaranaUi, was cruelly, biutally, and barbarously murdered on the public highw ay by certain persons of the native lace to the jiuois unknown, by gunshot and tomahawk wounds, and of ■which wounds the said George Patterson did then and there instantly die. The jurors on the inquest do heieby record then sense of the impiopriety of persons going into or to ■wards the bush singly or in small numbers, and hereby entreat their fellow-settleis to lefiam horn agaiufollowiug so dangeions a piactice.