Untitled

NZ Truth, Issue 184, 26 December 1908, Page 5

The Inspector: How do you account for so many of the witnesses to-day saying it was. a blow or a punch ?— "I can't account for it at all-" "Do' you suggest that the man was so helplessly drunk that he staggered right off the footpath and went down with such a crash ?" "He must have been very drunk or he would not have gone down with suclj a crash." Thomas Matthew Clark, draper, of 8€ Vivian-street, also gave evidence. THE VERDICT. The jury deliberated for twenty minutes and submitted a unanimous verdict as lollows : — "That the said John Ferguson came to his death by fracturing . Hs skull throu«h falling violently on the roadway by ..reason of a blow received -while m a state of intoxication." COLLINS BEFORE THE COURT. Collins was brought before Dr. McArthur, S.M., on a charge that on December 12, at Wellington, he did unlawfully assault and thereby kill and slay one John Ferguson. Inspector Ellison applied for a remand for eight days, and intimated that ho would then apply for a further remand for eight days. Mr Gra^ for Collins, asked for bail ana urged that as his Worship was fully acquainted with the circumstances he should not fix a heavy bail. His Worship said he was fully conversant with the case, which . was more one of misadventure than otherwise. Still the laying of the information was necessary to bring out alll the facts. He fixed bail m the sum of £50 and two sureties of £25 each.