THE INQUEST.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 382, 31 March 1879, Page 3

THE INQUEST.

The adjourned inquest on the body of the deceased man, Banks, was held at the R.M. Court, before Mr. Mansford, acting as Coroner for the Hospital, this afternoon. The following jury were sworn in :— Mr. S. Alcorn (foreman), Messrs. G. Dutton, W. Raymond, J. Message, A. Evans, W. Wiggins, J. Murray, C. Gamble, E. Wilson, J. M. Richardson, F. Isaac, F. Simeon, 8. Stone, J. Ingles, J. H. Schwabe. 'The apprentice, Jones, who is accused fo causing the death of tbe deceased, was present during the inquiry. Mr. Manflford said that unless the jury particularly wished a very full inquiry, he only proposed to take sufficient evidence to enable them to give a verdict as to the cause of death, inasmuch as there would have to be a magisterial 'Inquiry afterwards, when the person who committed the assault on the deceased would be charged at that inquiry, and the evidence would nave to be gone into much more iully than before the present tribunal. He might have, however, to explain to the jury presently the difference between murder' and manslaughter, so as to enable them to say to which category the present offence belonged. Samuel Cann, master of the Loch Fergus, deposed that John Theopbilus Jones was apprentice, and the deceased, Henry Banks, was cook on board bis vessel. On Sunday, the ' 2lst instant, from what was told biro, witness went forward and found Banks lying on the deck, apparently insensible. He had a wound •lmoßtnvo Inches lodk on bio hsadi Blood was running aft for about 10 feet along the deck. Jones was standing near the nan. He thought deceased and Jones had not much drink. They had not had any previous quarrel to his knowledge. Albert Holmes, carpenter on board the Loch Fergus, deposed that about a quarter past 8 on the. morning of Sunday, the :23rd, he heard Jones ask deceased why he hove the meat overboard. Witness did not hear what reply he made, but Jones then said, "You had (tetter throw yourself overboard." Deceased rejoined, " You can't throw me over," and Jones then told him to come out of the galley. Deceased came out, and Jones told him to put his hands up. Deceased would not do so, and witness did not hear any further quarrel, but saw Jones "shaping up" at deceased with his hands. Deceased tried to ran into the galley, but Jones held him back, tolling him not to fetch anything to strike him with. A passenger named Robert Hill, told Jones to let him go, and he did so He was standing at the g-alley door watching him, when, deceased took up an Iron bar, a little over two feetUong, li inch broad andai inch thick. Witaess tried to stop him as he was running past alter Jones, but could not do so. Jones got upon 1 he forecastle-head, and took up a capstan bar. Deceased was half-way up the steps at the forecastle head with tbe bar in his band prepared to strike Jones. The latter warned him not to come any further, but the deceased repliod, "I don't care a d — , I'm going to kill you." Jones then brought down the capstan bar on tbe head of deceased. The latter fell back, and struck the deck with his head. After some further evidence, including that of Dr. Keating, surgeon of the Hospital, the jury retired, and al 25 minutes past 3 returned the verdict that the deceased "died from a blow inflicted with a capstan bar by Jones in self defence." The magisterial inquiry into the case will be continued to-morrow, when Jones will be again brought up In custody. '