INQUEST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3906, 23 October 1880, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inqujst was held at the Hospital, at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, before Dr Co ward, tho District Ooroner, upon the body of Edmund Herbert Pearse. Mr John Inglis was chosen foreman of the jury.

The Coroner remarked that tho jury were called upon to investigate a painful case, a young man having been struck in the knee by a bullet whilst walking by the river-3ide, and having since died in the Hospital. The first duty of the jury would be to view the body.

Mr Cowlishaw appeared on behalf of Shand and Hodge, two of the lads implicated. MiBruges appeared for Davenport, the third lad.

Thomas Neil : lam a detective constable of police stationed at Christchurch. I produce the "depositions of Edmund Herbert Pearse, taken by George Lilly Mellish on Oct. 15. I waß present, and saw deceased sign them. I heard deceased say that he knew ho was going to die.

Tho Coroner read tho depositions of Edward Berbert Pearse, taken on Oct. 15, as follows :

— " 1 am aware that I have no reasonable J hopo of recovery. On the 28th day of September last, at a quarter past 10 in the morning, I was walking up Avonside. It was a long way down, by a red houße. Three young fellows in a boat were going along. Presently I heard a shot, and then a second shot. Tho first came near mo, and the eecond struck me in the knee. I searched around for the bullet, but could not find it, and I called to those young fellows in the boat, but I did not think it "was them at the time. I thought tho Bhots came from the other side of the river, because I did not see any smoke from tho boat. Whilo I was searching for the bullet I heard a third ahot, which struck into the water, and then I thought it dangerous to remain there any longer, and then limped away about a quarter of a mile. I then cilled again as loud as I wa9 ablo. I had called to thcao boys in the boat to try and etop them. At last, I think about half-past ten, a boy came running out from the red house, I think, and eaid ho would fetch some one to take me here. He fetched two men, who came in about 15 minutes, and brought me here. It was not a very large boat. It lookeJ dark. There were three boys in it. I could not recognise tho boye. I thought I was almost positive that tho shots were from a rifle if not from a \ery large pistol, but I thought it was a rifle. At tho time I was struck the boat was lying at a point about 250 yards away, as near as I can say. The boat was down the river from where I was standing. I was struck on the left knee, right in tho centre, and on tho ineide of the joint. I waß walking towards the boat with my knee directly opposite of course. I caw no other persons in the neighbourhood at the time. I looked about. 1 was just a few yards, threo perhaps, from tho 'river bank when struck. The ball cut one hole in my I trousers, drawers and knee."

" By prisoner Davenport : At the tin;o the Bhots were fired tho boat was moored just off tree?, and three shots wero fired from there. I waa on tho south bank of tho river wh^n hit. There was a houee near whew the shots were fired, and I thought tho shots came from tho house. I heard tho occupkr of the house was named Smith."

. " By Court : There was only some gorso near whero I was standing when hit. I don't remember whether there wero any trees between where 1 was standing und the boat. If there were any they were very short, indee

a few willows perhaps."

Sub-Inspector O'Donnell : The threo boys wire formal 1 }- nrresled, and wore released on bail. Perhaps they should bo present. The lada — llenry Davc.nporl., Charles Voro ir.H'^r, uii'i Robert S!uii:d were then brought in.

Mr Coclishaw submitted it would bo fnir I'iU my stutcmvijt by the boys thuuld b-j

taken after all the other evidence had been

given,

Henry Edward Mathows .- I live at Avonside, just at the back of Mr Palairet's, on the south side of the river. I remember Sept. 28 laat. I was in tho garden, about 11- o'clock in the morning, and while standing there I heard somebody cooey. I did not take any notice for a few minutes, and then went out into the road, to about 100 yards from where I had been standing. I saw'a man about 300 yards down the river, on the same side, calling for help. He said he had been shot. I went for a cart. There were two men in the cart, and Pearso was brought to the Hospital. I have seen tho body in tbe morgue, and recognise it as that of Pearse. At a later hour in the day— about 4 'in the afternoon — I miv the three- young men i >w beforo the Court. I knew two of them. They were going up stream, towaidstho town. I began telling them about the man. f c'ting shot ; I think it was Davenport' who said it could not have been them, because they went down earlier than the time I. stated. I saw a large revolver in the boat, the same sort as that produced. I think Davenport said that a revolver would break a man's leg at 80 yards. 1 tMnk I told them "about a quarter to 11," ai the hour at which the man was shot.

Ernest .Albert Inwood : I live at New Brighton. lam in the employ of- a farmer, Mr iMbbs, his place being near Humbug reach, on tbe Avon. I 'was -at home on Sepb. 28 last — the day. P» arse was shot. ! heard reports of firearms in the early part of the day. Saw a boat go down between half-past 10 and 11 — I wouldn't be sure. There were^ three lads in it. I could not recognise them. In the afternoon, while at work in the paddock, I heard a shot or two. It was near 4 o'clock. It was the same boat that went down in the morning. Soon after I saw them- they .fired fourshots in succession ; four or five, 1 would not be sure which. Of the four shots fired in the afternoon, one of the bullets came, whistling past me; and I thought they'd be shooting me, so I got up on a rise and had a look at them.

Mr-Co wlishaw submitted that this ought not to go down. Ho never heard of a man's thoughts being evidence.

The Coroner pointed out that the statement need not necessarily go to a juror; the man was simply saying what made him take a look at the boys.

John Neill : ; I am a detective constable, stationed at Christ church. On Sept 29, in consequence of what I heard, I went and saw Robert Sliand, one of the three boys now before the Court. Up. slated that he, Vero Hodge, and Henry Davenport had been down the river in a bout together, on the day previous, and that Davenport had a large revolver which he was firing balls out of. I afterwards saw Henry Davenport, now before bhe Court. Ho stated that Robert Shand, Charles Vere Hodge, and himself, were down the river in a boat on the 28th —it was on Sept. 30 I saw him. He eaid he began firing with a revolver he had of hiß own, near Smith's and Gibb's, about ten o'clock in the morning. He 6aid he did'nt notice any person on the opposite side of the river at tho time ; that some of the balls might hava bounded off stumps of trees he was firing at, and hit the man. I had told him that; the man Pearso had been shot. He eaid the balls had not so bounded off and hit the man to his knowledge, and that if such was tho case it was an accident. On last Tuesday I took possession of the ball pro duced, from Richard Brown, head wardsman at tho Hospital. I have since compared it with this revolver, and i ound it to correspond therewith. (The ball was here placed in the chamber.) I should say that such a revolver would carry about 200 yards.

The Coroner : It is very long in the barrel ; it would carry a very long way.

William Hill, a constable, gave evidence. Richard Brown ; I am head wardsman and dresser at the hospital. The deceased (Poarse) came in on Sept. 28, in the forenoon." He had a gunshot wound on the inside of the knee On tho 18th of this month I b&w the bullet when I was dressing the wound. I saw a piece of lead shining, and took it oiit with a pair of forceps. I marked it. That is the bullet produced.

Drs W. S. Davjes and Syines attributed death to blood poisoning, resulting from the wound.

The three lads having made statements, the jury, after half an hour's deliberation, returned a verdict to the effect that death had resulted from a bullet wound, but that they had no conclusive evidence before them to show by whom the shot was fired.