THE INQUEST.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2770, 9 August 1883, Page 7

THE INQUEST.

July 29. Tbe inquest on the gaol tragedy was held yesterday afternoon. Mr Shallcratij the gaoler, deposed that at ten minutes to six m the morning he heard a ■cream, but thought it was from outside the gaol. He got up, and went down stairs and into the gaol, however, and on entering tbo corridor was met by Davidson, who Btood eight paces off .with a revolver m hia right ■band. Davidson said "If you come another step, I'll ihoot you." Davidson clio told him to open the front door, but ho refused, whereupon Davidson agaio threatened to fire unless he did it. Shallcrass then commenced reasoning with and threatening Davidson, and managed to start him off talking about hia grievances. Mrs Shallcrass entered the corridor, and she asked Davidson where Adams was, to which tha convict replied "Oh, he's all right." They then went oeu parleying for about five minutes, whoa Shallcrass told Davidaoh he could shoot him, and Davidion replied " I'll be. d— d, lam shot." Shallorass said "I would rather you take jour oirn life than I should do so." . Davidson

repeatedly put his revolver to his own head. After about 35 minutes, Chief Warder Wbite came on tho econe, and eommencod to expostulato with Davidson until at length Davidson drew back to the wall, placod the revolver to hiß mouth and pulled the trigger, but tho cap snapped. Ho then examined tha revolver again, put it to hid heni, lired, and foil dead. Sballcrass then rushed up to Bee where Adams wa*, and found him lying dead m the yard. He had a wound m tho back of his head, another m tho neck and tho back, und a frightful wound m tho abdomen, from which his intestines were protruding. Three white prisoners were cjnllnod m the cells m, the corridor m which Davidson stood, and the latlor, beforo shooting himself, shook hunds with the inmate) of two of tho cells, putting his hand botweon ihograting. Before, however, Shallcraes left (he corridor and went to his office to get his revolver, leaving Mr* Shallcras* m the corridor, Davidson had then given up the idea of shooting. From tho place where Davidson Btood, ho could see Adams lying m the yard, and mutt have known he was dead. Davidson had been employed as cook since May 18th, and was always very orderly and obliging. He BRreed with everyone and never showed any sign of montnl aberration. It was the duty of Adams to call Davidson to light tho firos, &c. Davidson had access to knives, and a long butcher's knifu was picked up be ide Davidson's body. Adams' coat waß m the yard and Davidson appeared to have searched it for keys, as a koy was found m the gate between tho yard and the garden, but it was the key of an inner door and would not open the gate. Daring his conversation with Davidson tehatlrrass says Davidson drew buck for a minute after threatening him if ho moved, and then returned with two revolver!. The revolvers wero kept m Iho armory, which wib a cupboard within tha officers' room, to which Davidson hid access. A panel of this cupboard was broken. Two chambers of one revolv.-r had beon discharged, and one m tho other. Davidson was to have been removed to "Wellington, and hai not the s.p. Wallace been detained by bad weather, would have tailed. Ho did net appear to like the idea of going to Wellington, and said if he had gone ho would havo jumped overboard. Slmllcrass told him to lay down tho revolver, and then ho could jump orerboard.

Chief Warder Whito corroborated Shall crass' statements m all important facts.

The medical ividenco was that Adams' doith resulted from hemorrhage, but that bad immediate as istanco been available his life could not have been saved.

The iury returned a verdict regarding Adams of wilful murder by Davidson, and on llw body of the littor a verdict of felo de ,ie. They then adjourned till Monday to con(Her a rider. Opinions wero expressed that firearms should not have b?cn loft where accessible to prieonor*, and they also commeatod on a life-prisoner of such character being omployed as a cook. Nelso.v, July 3 ).

Regarding tho gaol tragedy, tho jury again met to-dny m order to consider their rider, and they agreed to ndd tho following to their verdict: — (1) That the delay m removing Davidson to one of the gaols m tho colony whoro prisoners sentenced to imprisonment for life are confined is much to bo regretted. (2) That they consider that prisoners like Davidson, whose murderous and suicidal tendencies were known, should not under any circumstances have been employed m the gaol, and they would recommend for the future the arms be kept m a i>laco of greater security than tlio so-called armory nt present m use. (Ii) That they desire to oxprcss their admiration of the tart nnd bravery displayed by Mr Shallcrass under such trying circumstances.