PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4023, 9 January 1875, Page 3

PORT CHALMERS.

(Before T. A. Mansforcl, Esq., R.M.)

A Giiavr Charge.— Thomas Bisset was ehar-'el upon the information of the Pol cc, with bavin-' " on the 29th day of December, 1574. at Taylor's Point feloniously and wilfully, and of malice aforethought, killed and wounded one George Aldrige," &c , &c. Mr Joyce appeared for the defeuce, and Sergeant >eil conducted the prosecution. Several witnesses were examinnd, tlieir evidence being in a very, great degree a mere recapitulation of that adduced at the inquest on Thursday. Samuel Wills, the first witnss called, related the occurrences of the morning, of the sth January, when Aldrige died, aud how he and Bisset hastened to the Port to procure medicine for him, thinking he was in a fit.

Cross-examined by Mr Joyce: Witness said that just before the man's death they were talking about boats, fishing, &c. Did not remember speaking about any rows deceased had had with people. Suddenly, when pressed by Mr Joyce, witness recollected something which, to use his own words, " I ought to have remembered yesterday, when givins evidence at the inquest." His Worship remarked that he could make the omission; whereupon the witness stated that on the morning, of *he sth hist, a few hours before deceased died, he told him that he and liissct were playing balliwitlii the tumbler, aud that Hisset, throwing it rather too hard, struck deceased in the temple with it. This statement on tl»e part of the deceased was in reply toa question put by witness as to how deceased came by. the cut on his temple. The Bench observed that tliis was a piece of mo3t important evidence.

Witness continued—Thomas Bisset, the prisoner, and Mrs Ruth were positive the statement was made by the deceased. The prisoner and deceased were generally good friends, and certainly had no quarrel on the day of the latter's death.

Alice Huth, the widow who, had been some time living- with the deceased, gave evidence touching the quarrel that occurred between the prisoner and Aldrige on the 29th;December. She merely reiterated the evidence she hud-given at the inquest on Thurfddy, and was positive that she did not see more than the commencement oi the quarrel, and that when she again looked, both men were on the floor, they being intoxicated. The tumbler was also lying on the floor broken aud bloody. The-prisoner did not sleep iv the house, as usual, bh it night, but returned next morning, and his first wonis were to ask after Geordie, and to regret having struck him with the tumbler. Prisoner dressed the wound. From the time the quarrel occurred until the deceased died he only twice com-plnine-1 about the wound in his head. Both men drank a great deal, and had not been properly sober for three moinhs.. Only three bottles of grog were drank in her house from the 2!) th December to the sth January..

By Mr Joyce : It was Geordie who struck the first blow in the quarrel. Ha had complained to her about having been struck with a stone on the left temple, some three weeks previously, his assailant bein" a man named " Sydney." The wound had been bandaged up. She had uiven tlie stone to the Sergeant. The stone was produced in Court, and bore peculiar stains.

Cross-examination -continued : Both Bisset and deceased told her to do what she liked with the broken tumbler. Both counselled her not to throw it away. Richard Rose, one oi the witnesses, was examined, and then the examination was adjourned until Tuesday next.