DEPOSITIONS

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume I, Issue 8, 30 May 1840, Page 3

DEPOSITIONS

Taken on view of the body of Henry Richard Eaton, May 17, 1840, before Major R. Baker, magistrate, and a respectable jury.

Florence Shannon SAVorn. — I am the wife of Michael Shannon, and reside up the River Hutt. I was standing ironing in my "house about five weeeks since, when one of' tlre A natives'' of ' NeAV Zealand came into my^house,^ and pointed a spear at me ; I heard ?slra§s boys screaming outside. The native'ttien* left the house, leaving his s]^ear.and his mat, Avhich he threw. off on the, ground. By the Jury. — He did^not-'assault or hurt me. He merely touched-me- on the arm, took up the bed clothes, and other loose articles that Avere lying about the room, and left the house Avith them. I ran out of the house, and saAV deceasedbleedirigveryprofusely ; the blood was trickling doAvn his face. Deceased was a very short distance from the house. I saw another native standing near deceased, who immediately went away in company with the native avlio had stolen my bed clothes. Deceased told me that one of these mcii had struck him with a spear.

By the Magistrate. — I should be able to recognize the man avlio entered the house ; I had not a good view of the other, and should not know him again.

Adam Reid sworn. — I am a merchant, and reside up the River Hutt. About the 14th of April last, I was coming out of my house, when I heard some boys screaming aloud. I went to ascertain the cause, and found one of them bleeding and crying very much ; he appeared desperately Avounded on the side of the head. He told me that one of the natives had struck him with a spear ; I Avent in pursuit of the natives. lam not aAvare that either of tlie boys had ever given provocation ; on my return from pursuing the native, I Avent down to see after the boy's Avound, when I found Dr. Dorsey seAving it up ; deceased Avas lying in front of the doctor's house at the time. Mrs. Shannon told me' that one of the natives had stolen her bed clothes. Dr. Dorsey held one of the natives mats in his hands, (the one produced). I believe the spear, which I had before seen near deceased, to be the same as the one produced in court.

By the Jury. — I never saw the boys meddling with potatoes belonging to the natives.

Richard Augustus Eaton, junior, sworn. — My brother and I were employed outside of Mrs. Shannon's house, putting up some bushes., when two natives approached us. One entered Mrs. Shannon's house, and the other rushed upon me, and struck me with a spear in the side. He afterwards attacked my brother, and speared him on the side of the head. We gave him no provocation, nor had we been meddling with any thing belonging to the natives.

By the Jury. — We were distant about twenty yards from the potatoe ground.

Richard Augustus Eaton, senior, sworn. — I am a miller and farmer, and reside up the River Hutt. On the 14th April last, during the morning, I was employed with my two boys at work, about twenty-five yards from Mrs. Shannon's house. In the afternoon, I had occassion to be at work about 240 yards from the same house, when I heard my boys screaming out to me. I went immediately to see what was the matter, and found deceased covered with blood. I hastened on towards the house of Mrs. Shannon, who informed me that one of the natives had robbed her of some bed clothes and other articles, and that another had been striking the children. I did not see either of the natives, but directly went in search of them. On my return, I found that Dr. Dorsey had sewn the wound up.

By the Magistrate. — I occasionally dressed deceased's wound myself. I never gave the child any spirits after he received the wound. I gave him some wine about three times after he was sufficiently recovered to walk. This was given without consulting the doctor. It was as much as thirteen days after he was wounded before I gave deceased any wine. Several times I poulticed and fomented the boy's head, by direction of Dr. Dorsey ; also when Dr. Dorsey had left off attending. I occasionally dressed the wound before Dr. Monteith was called in to attend deceased.

"William M'Claggett Dorsey sworn. — I am a surgeon, and now reside at Thorndon. About five weeks ago., from my own house, I heard screams in the direction of a house occupied by Michael Shannon, and saw Mr. Eaton crossing the field with a pitchfork or something of the kind in his hand. I accompanied him towards Shannon's house. Mrs. Shannon said one of the natives was robbing her house, and recommended me to cock a brace of pistols which I held in my hand. Mr. Eaton and I went into the house, but found no one. I picked up a mat which was lying on the ground (the one produced in Court.) Mr. Eaton requested me to look at his boy. I went home to my own house with the child, and made a minute examination of i

the wound, which was in the temporal muscle. I sewed the wound up. As I was not requested by the father to visit the child again, I did not consider it my duty to attend him, although I did once go and see him of my own accord. Mr. Eaton occasionally spoke to me relative to his child's illness, but in a very easy off-hand kind of manner ; I did not .consider, therefore, that deceased was very -dangerously ill. <f 'By the Magistrate. — Deceased was in a is'tate of stupor after he received the wound, .which in my opinion was a bad symptom. I believe it very possible for the child to have died of such a wound, even at so late a period as this. I saw nothing of the natives.

George Dalrymple Monteith sv/orn. — On the 20th of April last, I was requested by Mr. Eaton to attend his child. I examined the wound, and found it going on to all appearances very favourably. I recommended a continuance of the same applications as Dr. Dorsey had prescribed. About seven days afterwards, Mr. Eaton sent to me for some dressing. On the 30th hist., deceased was well enough to walk down to the surgery ; he was improving in general health, but the wound was not looking so well. On the Ist of May, I extracted a small splint of wood about three-quarters of an inch broad ; the thickness was not greater than that of a piece of paper doubled ; it was very pliable. On the 3rd, he came down again to the surgery ; the wound appeared very unhealthy. On the 6th, I was sent for by Mrs. Eaton, who stated that deceased was exceedingly ill. I found him in a dull, heavy stupor. On the 7th I bled him. On Sunday, the 10th inst., he was very much improved, and the drowsiness had left him ; he was so much better, that I did not consider it necessary to see him again on the following day (Monday.) I did not see him again alive.

This was the whole of the evidence, and the jury returned the verdict inserted in our last week's paper.