DIED LIKE A DOG.

NZ Truth, Issue 119, 28 September 1907, Page 5

DIED LIKE A DOG.

JOHN GREIG'S AWFUL ENDING. A Drunken Debauch Ends m Death. A Matter lor Further Investigation,

'A drunken orgy, a squabble and .the subsequent death under peculiar, not to say suspicious circumstances, were the main features of an inquest lield at Kaikoura recently, on the body of a yound man named John ■Oreig, belonging to Blenheim, and who was one of the Government grader party employed on the Bay f'addock Road. "Truth" says Greig died under suspicious circumstances advisedly, for no evidence was forthcoming to show how Greig died, and therefore, it ought to be a matter fr>r further police investigation. As "Truth" has said, there was a drunken orgy, there was a squabble, blows were struck, and Greig was left to die as no humane man or woman would leave a dog to die. Greig died a worse than dog's death and beyond a few mild words of reproof from the Coroner his so-called mates have not been brought to their proper bearings for their inhumanity. Greig's dead body was found early oa the morning of September 12. He was found on his knees lying m a pool of blood, and on the 13th , an inquest was started, and from the evidence it waft gathered that on September 11, *"Greig did not work on account of the wet weather, but went off and procured some whisky.. One of the most reliable witnesses seems to be a young man named Bernard James Rodden, a member of the gang. In his evidence he told the Coroner that he refused to go to town with Greig on Wednesday. Greig was sober, though, m witness opinion, seedy from effects of drink, but otherwise m good health. 'Greig returned just about dark the same evening. He called witness, and saying, "Take this," gave him • a bag containing bottles of whisky, which were taken to Sullivan's camp. He seemed shaky, but capable of taking care of himself., When deceased got to camip a bottle was opened, and they had a drink all round. The bottle was finished, Greig taking his share. He became quarrelsome and challenged P. Sullivan to fight ; he ■then* started to quarrel with Downey, who got up and the dispute was settled. Another bottle was opened, half contents of which witness concealed. Deceased and Downey both had their share. While this was being drunk Greig recommenced quarrelling with Downey, who challenged him outside. On Greig refusing

DOWNEY HIT HIM ; could not say whether with closed hand or not. After receiving the blow, which was not severe enough to knock him down or stagger him, G-reig sat down on a bunk ; Downey cllo laid down. Both were under the influence of liquor. Opened third bottle which all shared. Greig got on to the floor on his hands and knees, and laid there half-an-hour to an hour after the bottle was finished. Witness then tried to rouse him and take ■ him •to his own camp ; could not, though he spoke. This would be between 9 and 10. Left him, and witness went to his own tent about two yards away, and saw no more r-f him that night. Between 4.30 and 5 next morning heard a light struck m next tent, and Maddock say. to Downey, "Greig's dead." Went into the tent and found G-reig m a half-sitting position, apparently dead. Examined him ; found body cold and stiff. Informed Mr James, and with Downey, went and informed the police.

Cross-examined by the foreman he said : Saw no marks on face or forehead ; heard no noise during night. By police : There were no blows Struck m the quarrel with Sullivan. Saw no excessive flow of blood when Greig was struck by Downey. There were short stumps and broken bottles outside which could account for the injuries, assuming deceased had gone outside and fallen. By foreman : Cannot particularise further than by saying Downie stvrck deceased m the face. Deceased said he was wet and tired when he arrived at the camp.

Another witness was one Charles Maddock, a roadman. His evidence was corroborative of that of Roddens concerning the whisky drinking, and he went on to say : At about the middle of the second bottle there was a disagreement between deceased and Downie over an argument on South Africa, during which Downie struck deceased on the lace. The blow was not sufficient to knock him down, but Greis; afterwards sat down. About midnight witness discovered deceased

ON HIS. HANDS AND KNEES on the floor between two bunks ; he had not assumed this position immediately after being struck. With the assistance of Rodden, witness tried to get deceased on to the bunk, but Greig said he was all right where he was and remained there. Witness slept m the tent that night, and when he last saw deceased alive he was still on his hands and knees.

When Maddock woke up about four the next morning Greig was still m ,the same cramped position. Downie was aroused, and then it was realised that Greig was dead, though Tiownie could hardly at first believe it. The police were soon informed, and the. body was removed. According to Maddock, when the blow was struck Downie and the other men were under the influence of liquor. There was only one/ blow struck, and that was on the nose, but there was not a great flow of blood, which was issuing from the nostrils. Witness had seen the cut on deceased's forehead and was certain the wound was :»ot caused by the blow struck. Could not state whether deceased went outside the tent or not during the night. There was a chiselipointed pick outside the tent near 'the chimney

Patrick Sullivan's evidence -Was most unsatisfactory ; when called at the inquest he was drunk and had to be locked up. When he did give evidence he gave most inconsistent ren lies.

Dr. .Story, who had hold a postin or I fi m examination on Greig, said thai there were no wounds externally, except that the left eye .was

black and fading. Both eyes were congested, which appeared to be two or three days' old. There was a SMALL PUNCTURED WOUND over the left eye, and an incised wound, one inch long, m centre of the forehead. The latter incision penetrated the skin of the skull the skull itself being uninjured, but the nose was bruised towards the left side, which seemed to have been done two or three days before death had taken place. He could form no theory as to the cause of death. The wound on the forehead did not necessarily cause death, and m answer to the jury he said: It is possible for death to occur during a drinking bout, although a man may appear to be m perfect health, from alcoholic poisoning . through taking bad liquor. Greig may have been suffocated by lying m such a cramped position. A drinking bout would not alone . have caused death, but may have accelerated it. Witness was unable to ascribe any particular cause of death.

Constable Clarkson gave evidence. When witness arrived at the camp the body was found lying m a cramped position. It had only shirt and trousers on, and there was a considerable amount of blood on the face, but he could see

THE CUT ON THE FOREHEAD, but could not tell the length of the wound. Both arms were smeared with blood . and mud. Saw a quantity of blood where the body had been lying, but could see none about the tent. Did not look outside to see if there were any picks about, but there were various things there, which. might have caused the wounds if deceased had fallen on them. Owing to receiving a statement that deceased had been struck m the face, witness concluded the blood had come from there. Deceased had boots and stockings on, m addition to shirt and trousers. John Downie made a voluntary statement which was as follows :— I, John Downie, do hereby make the following statement : I am a laborer, working on the Bay Paddock road, at Kincaid, with a gang of roadmen. We got paid on Saturday and several of us came to Kaikoura township to pay our bills. After doing so we had a few drinks and returned to camp, taking some whisky with us, which was finished by Monday. We worked on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday being wet we did not work, and towards evening John Greig, now deceased, said he was going to Kaikoura, but several of us advised him not to go. He went,, however, and returned sometime about eight, when he appeared sober. He had whisky with him, which was opened and given to the party m camp. I was lying on my bed, reading a book which referred to South Africa and during the time the drinks were served round I mentioned to Maddock that it was a good book, but John Greig differed from me, and began to get quarrelsome, and P. Sullivan told him to keep quiet. Greig then turned to me. I told him to keep quiet, but he was still quarrelsome and wanted to fight me. I said I would not fight, but if he was of the same mind he could tell me when he was sober. He would not keep quiet, and still kept on at me, wanting to fight, asking me to come outside. I said all right, then, and cot up and

HIT HIM ONE BLOW on the face with my fist. G-reig did not attempt to strike me. and. appeared to quieten down I felt sorry for what I had done and remarked to the other men that I had hit him against my will, and said I would leave the job m the morninfr. as Greig was practically m charge of the work, and I felt I had done wrong. G-reig said, "Jack is not a bad chap," meaning myself, and I turned into bed and went to sleeo. leaving Sullivan, Maddock and Greig m the tent. Maddock awoke about five o'clock next morning, and said Jack G-reig was dead. I did not believe him and went with the others and examined the body. We found he was dead. Then I, m company with Barney Rodden, left for Kaikoura to infrom the police.—(Signed) J. DOWNIE.

Other evidence was given, and the jury's verdict was : That John G-reig came to his death on or ahout September 11th or 12th at Bay Paddock camp, Kaikoura. Although the evidence is insufficient to show cause, the jury is of opinion that death was occasioned through violence m the tent toy some person or persons unknown.