SHOCKING STREET INCIDENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3476, 16 March 1912, Page 3

SHOCKING STREET INCIDENT.

AN INOFFENSIVE MAN KILLED

The death of Nathaniel John Blair, aged 60 yea is, at- Gladesville Hospital, on 18th February, formed the subject of an inquiry at the coroner’s court. Alfred Sydney Whittingham, bricklayer, was present in custody. Mary Mearns, a widow, said she was standing at the corner of Abercrombie and Cleveland streets, waiting for a tram, about 11.15 p.m. cm 10th February. iSlie saw an old man on the pavement. A young man came up and threw a- ginger beer bottle a t him, but it missed its mark. The old man sat down on the kerbstone for a while, and when lie got lip the young man rushed a. ward, and struck at him with a tumble., which lie appeared to take from Ins pocket. The oldi man ran towards witness and .said, “Good God, woman, I have been stabbed. lam dying.” Re told /witness that he knew the young fellow who had stabbed him. Blood was running down his coat. Witness went to a. public telephone to ring up for an ambulance, but could -not get in. She went back to some young men, who were standing on the corner of the street, and got them to ring up. Later on she identified! Whittingham -as the person she saw strike deceased. Constable Joyce said that in company with Sergeant Allen he visited the scene of the occurrence. After being remanded at central court Whittingham said, “I had a few drinks in or 1 would not have clone it. The old man pushed, me. I had a knife in my hand at the time, cutting up tobacco, and 1 stabbed lnm with it.” Witness replied that he understood it was done with a glnvSs. Whittingham replied: “No, it was a penknife.” The Coroner returned a verdict of wilful murder against Whittingham, and he was committed for trial.