The Auckland Shooting Case.

Hastings Standard, Issue 476, 15 November 1897, Page 2

The Auckland Shooting Case.

THE INQUEST

(By Telegraph.)

(Per Press Association.)

Auckland, This day,

At the inquest on Corcoran, deceased's son deposed that on Friday last, about D in the morning, witness and his father started fencing on their boundary. John Pholen, son of Henry Pholen, went to where they were working, and about 11 o'clock Henry Pholen arrived on the scene. When Henry Pholen arrived his son had gone. Witness saw Henry Pholen coming from the direction of his own house with a double barrelled fowling piece muzzle loader. Witness's father was taking out some of the posts from the fence John Pohlen had put in, putting in the posts in his own. Henry Pohlen came about three or four yards from where witness's father stood. Pohlen, as witness understood him, said that it was John Pohlen's fence, and Corcoran, senr., ought not to have touched it. Witness's father said " Don't trouble yourself, Mr Pohlen; the best thing you can do is to go home and put the gun in the house." Corcoran, senr., was going to move another post, thereupon Henry Pohlen said to witness's father " I'll shoot." As Henry Pohlen said this he raised the gun to his shoulder, and pointed it towards deceased. There was some 12ft between them. Corcoran, senr., said, " don't you shoot." Corcoran senr. had no weapon of any kind in his hand, but advanced towards Pohlen, who remained where he was with the gun pointing at deceased. Deceased did not say anything more to Pohlen. Witness's father only went one step forward towards Pohlen, who fired the gun as Corcoran was advancing towards him. The shots struck deceased on the hand and entered the breast near the heart, Henry Pholen did not speak good English. He said as witness understood him, " There, there, are you satisfied now." After Pholen shot deceased he pointed the gun towards witness. Deceased staggered into witness's arms and was dead within a minute. Phc.len did nothing to assist deceased or witness after the shot was fired. Pholen then turned towards his own house and took the gun with him without saying another word. Deceased and Pholen were not on friendly terms. Constable Jones deposed that he arrested Henry Pholen charged with the murder of Patrick Corcoran. Pholen admitted shooting Corcoran and said it was over fencing or words to that effect. After the medical evidence the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Pholen.