HOMICIDE AT OPAWA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2239, 28 January 1897, Page 59

HOMICIDE AT OPAWA.

I JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE. i Chbistchurch, January 22. This morning Horatio John Parkes, » single man, 71 years of age, residing at Pines road, Opawa, oonfeised to Constable Hayes at Wools ton that he had killed another man named Michael Ryan in salf-defenoe with ao axe. It appears that Ryan has bsen living with Parkes for about nine months. The latter had a small income sufficient to keep him. Ryan was in the habit of coming home the worne fot drink and assaulting Parkes, aud last night, between 12 and 1 o'olock, Parkes was awakened by Ryan pulling him out of bed. Ryan struck Parkes with what the latter thought was the leg of a table, and then got an axe and threatened to cut Parkes up. Parkes got thf axe away, and, striking Ryan two blows on th« head with the front of the axe, killed him. Parkes s»ys that he then fell into semi-uncon-sciousness, and that when he recovered sufficiently this morning he went and reported to Constable Hayes. Parkes is a very old resident of tha district, having lived by himself for over 20 years at Opawa. Ryan was about 46 years of age. When charged at the Ohristchurch police depot with having murdered Ryan, P*rkes said: " I did not murdor him. I killed him in selfdefence." He also added : "He very nearly killed me. lam half dead now." Parkes has a bad bruise undeir the left eye, evidently the result of a severe blow. January 23. Horatio John Parkes was charged at th< Police Court this morning with th» murder oi Michael Ryan. On the application of the police, the accused was remanded pending the result of the inquest to be held in the afternoon. January 24. At the ooroner's inquest, held yesterday before Mr Beetham, on the body of Ryan, th« victim of the Opawa tragedy, the jury returned a verdict of " Justifiable homicide."