SERIOUS CHARGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 259, 30 September 1936, Page 7

SERIOUS CHARGE

SEQUEL TO FATALITY. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Sept. 29. The Magistrate’s Court proceedings concluded to-day on the manslaughter charge against Richard Corrigan, aged 49, a miner, w,lio was alleged to have been implicated in the death at Palmerston on August 26 of an elderly fisherman, Stuart Neish. Mr H. AV. Bundle, S.M., was on the bench and Chiel-Detective ioung conducted proceedings for the prosecution, Mr J. G. Warrington appearing for accused. Dr. Howden said that at about 1.45 a.m. on August 26 he saw the body of Neish lying at the door of his hut. Neish bad been dead for about two hours. He had a. contused wound over the left eye and a wound on his scalp.

Alexander El'holm, a fisherman, residing at Moeraki, said lie sometimes stayed the week-end with Neish. He came to Palmerston on Friday, August 21. On August 26 Neish and lie got two gallons of beer and a bottle of gin from Macßae’s. Neish wanted to go and see Corrigan. They took the bottle of gin, from which only one drink bad been taken. Witness had seen Corrigan a few times before, but lie was not a friend. On arriving at Corrigan’s bouse they had drinks out of small glasses provided by Airs Corrigan, who who did not have a drink. Ail argument started between Neish and accused about .Sein Feiners, witness said, and they started pushing each other. The two then went outside, Corrigan returning about ten minutes later. When .Neish did not come in witness went to look lor him. AA'hen he opened the kitchen door Corrigan walked in front of him and went a distance away from the bouse across a section. Corrigan went to his motor car by the hedge, and witness saw Neish lying between the car and the fence. Witness said to accused, “lie must have gone out very sudden.” He thought Neish, who was lying on his back, was drunk. Corrigan admitted that the car was his. They put Neish in the back seat. AA’itness joined Corrigan in the driver’s seat. He noticed no injury at that time. Neish was placed outside the door of his hut. AA’heu he found some time later that Neish was dead he informed the police. After further evidence Corrigan pleaded not guilty. He reserved hie defence and was committed for trial at Dunedin. Bail was granted in accused’s own recognisance of £2OO and one surety of £2OO, a condition being that he report twice daily to the police at Palmerston. The inquest proceedings were adjourned sine die.