A WELLINGTON MYSTERY

North Otago Times, Volume C, Issue 13178, 6 October 1914, Page 5

A WELLINGTON MYSTERY

THE DEATH OJMVONG SAY (lffisß , (Pot Frosa Association) hwH < '; ELLINGTON, O&obM W|| An inquiry into tlid circunistanccj|of 'M tho death of tlio Chinaman WJong fay f <*| filing, -who was presumably, between a-quaitoi'to and ut quflrtpi past 8 o'clock on the evening of Sep-M tcmbor lltli, was conducted by'tho Cor«" jf oner (Mr D. G. A. Coopor, S.M.) [to- J Dr Henry said that deceased had ftvo " * distinct wounds, ono on tho right check \ k with a smashed jawboiiej'amltthc other J* on, tho right hand side of tho skull, on", the top of tho forohcad. The wounds ' J Lould liavc bcou caused by a blow from *j ,the piece of blood stained iron bar, pro-'" »/ duced. '* A lad, fouitcen ycais or age, named''/ Edwaid Kiugci, residing in Adelaide 1, >, Road, said ho h\cd ncaily .opposite tire v deceased's shop. He rcmcmbcrcdVriday,iiight, September 11th last, for on, f that evening his father sent him to M i<* pui chase a stick of tobacto fiom tho Chinaman. This would be .'.t'twenty * minutes to eight o'clock. He saw the deceased, who was beside the touut6r. Standing in the corner, outsido the countci was a big tall man. This man was not talking to the Chinaman when witness enfered the shop. Witness ietinned home, but as lie did not get tho concet tobacco he had to go back ( to change it. When he letumcd to tho shop the same man was still thcic. The Chinaman was behind the counter, and the man was leaning with, his left elbow on the; counter.- right, hand was hidden.' The man, who was silent, had a brown felt hat pulled well 'down over '., his face, and wore a dark green over- ' coat. He'was clean shaved, and had'' " two prominent tcctli in his uppor gum. Witness could.not say whether he was dark or fair, but ho was of a modium build, and was about 28 to 30 yoais of age. He was neatly dressed, not oftue ' type that hung, about street corners.

Matthew Henderson said lie' knew , ' the shop kept by the deceased China- '* man, and recollected passing it about a ■/ quarter to eight o'clock on the night : of the 11th ult. The shop was dosed, '•' but was lighted at the front., It struck witness as unusual that the shop should ":, be closed so'early,' and: ho stopped. ;.:. When he did so he heard the sound of'/•#' a man groaning. Witness peered ; through the window, but could see no- '■■ , ,; thing, and concluding that everything... was all right ho continued on his way .',?. to drill. The sound of the moaning -.-:•■ that he heard was liks stertorous breathing. v The Coroner rcturucd n verdict that the death of deceased was due to a fracture of the skull, caused by a blow ' from an iron bar, inflicted by some ,; person unknown.'