CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11877, 31 January 1902, Page 5

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.

4 DEATH OF A SETTLER. News was received in town on Saturday afternoon (says the Stratford Settler) of the sensational death af a settler named Joseph Hewitt. It is said that deceased attended a banquet in tho Whangamomona schoolroom on the evening of Thursday, January 23. Deceased, with S. M. Scott,, William Joyce, and another remained in the schoolroom until four "a.m. on Friday, after all the others had left. A squabble arose by Joyce complaining that Hewitt had been talking about him. Hewitt replied that all he had said to Joyce was true, and with that they closed and started to strugglo.Hewit! being thrown down. He regained his feet, and the two agreed to g( outside and fight it out. When l.hey reached the door they again closed and fought, Hewitt receiving a blow on the face. Shortly after receiving the blow he became unconscious, and remained so for half-an-houi. On recovering he was put to b"d at the sohoolhouse. During Friday he was up and about, but complained of pains in the stomach. Somo time on Friday night he got out of bed, and left the place without anyone seeing him, and ho was not seen again until found on Saturday morning lying in an unconscious condition by a swamp in the vicinity of the school grounds. The doctor was sent for, but deceased never regained consciousness. Joyce has been arrested in a charge of manslaughter.