THE WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15267, 31 March 1910, Page 5

THE WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

CORKILL COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. [Peh Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 30. Robert Corkill was charged at tho Magistrate's Court to-day with tho murder of Christopher Denis Smith, in Pipitea Street, Wellington, on March 4.

Eye-witnesses of the tragedy Laving given evidence, John Ellison, Inspector of Police, stationed at Wellington, said he was called to Pipitea Street on tho ovening of March I. Adjacent to a crowd that had collected witness saw Alexander and : accused, the latter being handed over to witness. Before he got into a cab that was waiting near by, accused said, " I will not try to run away." When in the cab accused added, " Ho struck me twice in tho gate, and I ran out, and he knocked mo down. I shot him, but did not intend to kill him. When ho knocked me down I drew to save myself, but I did not intend to kill him. lam a bailiff; I come from Barcourt's. When I spoke to him outside, that's the way he treated me. He was in bed with his boots on when I went in. I tedd him to get up and get his things together, as tho furniture was going away in the morning. He then threatened my life in the house, and pushed mo cut." Witness said that at the time ho told accused that he was noting what he said, and would probably have to repeat it, but accused still kept on protesting that Smith had struck him. He showed witness a lump on his ja\y. and repeated the remark that he did it in his own defence. On his way to the station accused repeated this at intervals, and all to the same effect. At the station accused r. .keel how Smith was. Witness replied that ho had heard that Smith was dead. Accused said, "Oh, my God, I did not intend to kill him. 1 did it in my own protection. I was on the ground when I fired. I fired at random." Accused repeated that he was a bailiff, and showed his authority for being at the house. When asked as to how the man was, witness told accused that he did not know the man's name, and accused said it was Smith, repeating the story of his i.ll-treatment. Witness then told accused he was charged with the wilful murder of a man named Smith, and accused answer J, " Oh. not wilful. 1 did not intend to kill him." Accused had a lump on the jaw and a slight abrasion on the temple. Accused was very agitated when he was speaking. Mr Jackson, for accused, stated beforehand that he would not crossexamine any witnesses.

Accused was formally charged. He reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.