MINER IN DOCK

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXV, Issue 12979, 30 September 1936, Page 6

MINER IN DOCK

DEATH OF FISHERMAN SEQUEL TO A QUARREL. ACCUSED SENT FOR. TRIAL - (Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Sept. 29. Pol'be Court!' p oceedings concluded to-day on a manslaughter charge against, Richard Corrigan, aged 49, a inner, who was alleged to have been imph’catcd in the death at Palmerston oil August 20 of an elderly fisherman, Stuart Nei-sh. Air Bundle, fi.AL. was- on th© Bench and Chief Detective Young conducted the. prococd'ngs for the prosecution, Mr J. G. Warrington .appearing lor accused. • Dr. Hadwen said that, at about 1.45 a.in. on August 20, lie saw the body of deceased lying at the door of Id's hut, situated off Auskery street. Ncnsli had' been dead- for about two hours. Deceased ' had a contused wound over the loft eye and a wound on his scalp. Alexander Erholin, lishcinan, residing at Afoeraki, said that lie sometimes stayed the week-end w.lli deceased. He came to Palmerston on Friday, August 21. On August 20, Ne'sh and he got two gallons of beer, and a- bottle of gin from Al.cCrao’s. Neish wanted to go and see Corrigan. They took the bottle of gin, from which only oiid drink had been taken. Witness had seen Corrigan a few times before, but ho was hot a

f fend. On arriving at Corrigan's ho-use, witness placed the gin, bottle on the kitchen table and they had drinks out of small! glasses provided by Mrs Corrigan, who- did not have a drink.' An argument started between deceased and accused about Seiii Femurs and they started pushing each other. The two then went outside, Corrigan returning about It 1 minutes later. When Neish d:d not come in, witness went to- look for him. When, he opened the kitchen door, Corrigan walked in front of him and went some distance away from the house across the section.- Corrigan went to- his 1 motor car by the; hedge and witness saw Neish lying between the car and the fence. Witness said to 'accused : “He- must have-gone cut very sudden.” He thought Neish. who was lying on Ins back, , was drunk. Corrigan admitted that the car was his and witness told him It was no good letting the poor man lie there all irght and ssked him to give hun a hand to take Neish to his hut. They put Neish in the backseat. Witness joined Corrigan in tlie driver'te seat. He noticed no blood or injury at that time . Deceased was

placed outside the door of the hut. When lie found sometime later that Neish was dead, he informed the police. After further evidence, Corrigan pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence and, was committed foe trial at Duned'ji. Bail was granted in accused’s own recognisance of £2OO «aul one surety of £2OO, a condition being, that lie reports twice daily to the police at Palmerston.

The inquest proceedings wore adjourned sine die.