THE INQUEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 1501, 21 August 1880, Page 14

THE INQUEST.

At the inquest on the body of Mrs Young, on Wednesday last, Dr Whitton, recalled, said : Since I gave my former evidence I have had an opportunity of further examination, and I wish to amend my evidence respecting the wound over the eye. Ido not now think the wound likely to nave been inflicted with a walking-stick, but should think it more likely to have been caused by one of the stones. It is possible that a fall against any sharp corner might have occasioned snoh a wound. The piece of bagging if used m a gag might have

caused the lacerated wound of the tongue, and the cord could, if used in connection with it, have caused the laceration of the angleß of the mouth. I was present when Sergeant Morton gave his evidence respecting marks on Ah Lee. I have examined Ah Lee myself, and find the marka as described by him. All the scratches on the hands and arms, except two on the second knuckle of the first finger, and the third knuckle of the second finger of the right hand, I consider may have been inflicted at the same time — that is, six or seven days ago from to-day. The two scratches I have excepted are of older date. The marks on the neck, face, and brow I do not consider recent scratches, but old cicatrised wounds. I examined Ah Keen on Saturday. I found two scratches on his neck, on the left sido. I thought them then to be six or seven days old. I endeavoured to obtain a cast of the teeth-marks on the wrist of the badyof deceased, but finding I could not get a patisfactory cast I have preserved a portion of the skin showing the marks of teeth. I { have examined the meuths of the men now in \ custody. Ah Lee has on the upper jaw four regular incisor teeth. The lower incißors are also regular as to height, but the two middle lower incisors project forward or outwards. Ah Keen has four regular upper incisor teeth. The lower incisors are also regular as to length, but the two centre ones project backwards. Che Fong hag upper incisor teeth, complete in number but irregular, overlapping one another. The lower incisor teeth are nearly even, complete in number, and regular. Lew Ting_ has upper incisor teeth complete. The two middle incisors are an eighth of an inch lower than the others ; Jower incisor teeth regular and complete in' number. Ah Ti has upper incisor teeth complete, but irregular. The first right incisor is elongated the eighth of an inch. The lower incisors are irregular. His teeth are very dirty and loose, while the teeth of the other men are sound and clean. I only examined incisor teeth. At the conclusion of the inquest on Wednesday the Coroner expressed his regret that the evidence, although so lengthy, should in reality be so meagre regarding the important point of throwing light upon the actual perpetrators of the murder— for that murder had been committed he presumed the Jury could have no doubt. He warned the Jury that they should not allow their minds to be biassed by any preconceived opinions, but that they should be guided solely by the evidence before them. The only positive point of direct evidence they had was the statement of the dying woman, that it was Chinese, not English. If they belteved Bhe was capable at the time of understanding what was said to her, they must no doubt arrive at a belief that the murder had been committed by Chinese. There were some matters that tended to throw suspicion upon some of the men in custody, but these did sot go beyond suspicion, and he was not able to direct them to any piece of evidence that appeared to fasten any clue compatible with guilt on any particular perßon. The Jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown/ 9 adding the following rider :—": — " As the Jury have been led by the evidence to suspect that the unknown person or persons were Chinamen, and looking at the extreme difficulty of prosecuting inquiries among them, they strongly urge the Government to offer a substantial reward to anyone, not the actual murderer, who may give information which shall lead to conviction," The Coroner said he fully concurred in the verdict and rider, and would telegraph the substance of the rider to the Hon. the Minister of Justice in the morning. Naseby, August 13th. The five Chinamen arrested on suspicion of being implicated in the murder of Mary Young at Kyeburn, were brought before the Court today, and at the request of Superintendent Weldon were remanded for seven days.