CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13765, 2 June 1908, Page 5

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER

STIRLING HOTEL CASE. ACCUSED COMMITTED,FOR TRIAL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dttnedlv, Monday. The hearing of the charge of manslaughter against Richard Cornish, late licensee of the Stirling Hotel, as a result of the death of his wife, was resumed at Balclutha to-day. Lily Knox, domestic servant, latterly in the service of Cornish, said on the afternoon before her death deceased was drunk. Witness noticed a mark behind deceased's ear the day before she died. It had been thore a long time. She had known Mrs. Cornish tumble over several times while drunk, and in consequence receive painful bumps. Witness saw no bloodstains in the sittingroom on May 1, and. did not clean up any. It was untrue for the cook to say the sittingroom was "swamped" with blood. Alexander Smith, labourer, said he slept in tho Stirling Hotel the night before the body was found. There were no bruises on Mrs. Cornish's face when he last saw her. He saw nothing of accused or hie wife next morning. Wm. Taylor, barman, said deceased had been drunk for a week before her death. There were no marks on deceased's face. After a short argument between counsel, the magistrate said witness was answering plain questions very reluctantly, and appeared to be hedging. Continuing, witness said on the afternoon of May 1, accused told him his wife was dead. In .committing accused for trial, the magistrate made some scathing remarks on the conduct of many of the witnesses, and said evidence had been wilfully suppressed. His reason for sending' accused to the 'Supreme Court was that the body was shown to have been found by his bed, and that he must have known how it came to be there. Bail was fixed in accused's own surety of £200, and two others of £100 each.