THE TAIHAPE SENSATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13929, 12 June 1909, Page 2

THE TAIHAPE SENSATION.

A SINGULAR CASE

THE ACCUSED DISCHARGED

Per Press Association. WANGANUI, June 11. \ very singular case has occupied the Supreme Court during the past two days. The circumstances are to the following effect: -On February 22 last two men, Amos Chatfield and Frederick Garlick, left Ohutu for Taihape, a couple of miles distant. They were intimate friends, and Garlick accompanied Chatfield at the latter a request. They intended to "turn home ,n time to do the milking. At about 8 o'clock at night Garlick led ChatfieM U horse home, and declared that he had thrown Chatfield into the Hautapu River. He was evidently drunk, and his actions during the next hour or so were of a sensational nature. He reiterated that he had k Hied Chatfield and threatened to kill Mrs. Chatfield whom he wanted to come in a cart and look for her husband. Eventually Garlick got his gun and about 10 o'clock was. shot through the shoulder, the bone el "e.f hattP [f« In a r^ he flesh torn away. )\'tn?w declared that the wound was self-inflicted. T* hile Garlick was terrorising the village a p*rtv had gone in search of Chatfield and "found him lying amongst shrubs some fourteen feet down the bank of the river. Shrubs had stopped a fall over a precipice seventy feet deep, rte was dead drunk, and did not awaken till after he was pulled on to the road. Tlie hats of both men were found lying on the road, and there were marks as of a man having been dragged across the road to the edge of the bank. In court Chatfield stated that when he and Garlick reached Taihape they had some beers, but left for home qmte sober, both being of temperate habits. Garlick bought a bottle of draught whisky, and this they drank going alone" the road Chatfield had two drinks and then lost consciousness knowing nothing more till awakened hv his rescuers. " Garlick, in giving evidence on his own behalf, said that Chatfield got so drunk that he fell off his horso Garlick pulled him to the side of the road out of danjicr. and Chatfield then rolled over the rhff. Garlick tried to pull him up, but ooiild not, and then, at Chatfield's sjicpostion, went for a cart and Mrs. Chatfield. From that point his mind was a blank, and he knew nothing of his subsequent actions at Ohutu. The iurv retired at 10. 1) to-night, nnd after half nn hour returned a verdict of not Riiiltv of attempted murder, nnd subsequently not guilty of ,nt,rn.rtation and nttempted suicide, holdine tbot he was not in a rationnl «tate ni miml Accused was then discharged.