A SERIOUS CHARGE.

North Otago Times, 23 May 1908, Page 4

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

•"■ .♦.. ;■ . ■ l ■'» Per Press Association. Wostport, May-22. At tho adjourned inquest touching the deulb of Edmund John.Bourkc, held to-night, Connelly, brass boy on the 8.9. Tulune, said ho mid another brass boy named William Murray, o\ tho s.s. Rosamond, wero together at Qualtcr's hotel, having had sovoral drinks at different hotolu... Thoy saw Halincn and Andersen, of tho steamer Caiiopus, and Holinon asked witness tq go to Ayer'a Hotel and bring a mail out to whom he had given tobacco, and for which he had not received payment, Hulinen guvo witness sixpence when he went to Ayer'a Hotel, and brought Bourko outside, where thoy 'were joined by Halincn and.Andersen. The former asked Bourko (or the money for the tohnceo ho had givcii him. Bourko, who had been drinking a good deal, said lie had nono, The four went over to M'Laughlin's stables, where witness said Hnlinen struck Bourko, who again said ho hut) no monoy. Witness also stiuck Bourko lightly with his • partially closed list. Bourko fell down, alid Hulinen kicked him several times,*, witness calling him a coward for doing so. Hulinen too(k oil one of Bourke's boots to see if there was any money in it. He also unlaced tho othor, and witness saw Hnlinen pass something to his pocket, but could not say what it was, or where ho got what he had in his htiml. He licnrcl Bourke's shirt and hip pocket being torn, Witness, Hnlinen and Andersen shortly afterwards left tho building. When they returned to tho hotel thoy had some drink, and later, when he heard a policeman ringing up, mado inquiries, and returned to tho stables with two bottles of hot water, putting them on Bourko chest, but tho doctor, who was also there, pronounced him dead. Witness then went to a fishshop' for supper, but struck. a girl and was turned out, and broko a window, cutting his hand badly. Ho later was arrested,- and got eight days. Witness, who was only 18 years of age, admitted several previous convictions for being drun 1 / and disorderly. Ho told the sergeant and tho police a different story to try and shield the men, also because Hnlinen had threatened to do for him if ho told what ho know, His present statement was true. Witness was severely cross-examined by the jury, but adhered closely to the nccoun'l given on oath. His statement was corroborated by Murray,