ALLEGED PARRICIDE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10287, 19 February 1895, Page 7

ALLEGED PARRICIDE.

During the past week the coroner afc Oamaru has been holding an inquiry into tha circumstances attending the death of Alex. C. Johnstone, who died on tho 3rd iust. of injurios whioh ifc was alleged were inflicted by his son Charles. Deceased died of peritonitis. After hearing evidence the coroner's jury brought in a verdict that Johnstone died from peritonitis, caused by violence used by his son, Charles Johnstone. Charles Johnstone was subsequently arrested by the police, and has been committed for trial.

The evidence given at the inquest by the sons of deceased living with him and a boarder in the houso was to the effect thafc he went home drunk on tho 14fch January, and was swearing at everyone, particularly at his sou Charles. He took up a spado, and went to hit Charles. The latter took fche spade from deceased, aud " shoved " him inside the house with fche side of his foot. An altercation then took place in the passage, and as the deceased called out "murder" Charles laid him on the floor, putting his hand on his father's mouth. Another son, who was passing, attracted by tho noise entered the house. Deceased then rose, and putting bis hand on his hip said Charles had IsJp.i bim and done for him. Henry wenb Some to his own house for tea, bub returning afterwards and finding his father alone, and complaining of piles, he took him homo with him. Some time later Dr Stewart was called in. Walter Williamson, in whose employ deceased had been, in his evidence stated fchafc he saw deceased on the 17th, when he informed witness that thero had beon a row, and tbafc his son Charles had knocked him down, kicked him in the lower part of the stomach, and knelt on him. The polffe hearing of the ease, and finding thi deceased's condition serious, asked Major Keddell, S.M., to take the man's dying depositions. He was accompanied by Dr Stewart, to whom deceased said that the injuries wer^ not received from whatever his son had done, but; .were the result of a fall from the merry-go-rbund on the Ist of January. He had felt ill ever since, and what his son had done to him had nothing whatever to do with the injuries he was suffering from To Major Keddell deceased said he had no charge to make against anvoue, and that he was " not going to make a die of it that time." Tbe statement that deceased had sustained a fall from the merry-go-round on New Year's Day was corroborated by a witness.