A POLITICAL FUNERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5093, 29 August 1884, Page 3

A POLITICAL FUNERAL.

DUNEDIN, August 28. At Port Chalmers to-day two boys, about 13 years old, were convicted of the theft of money from the Wesleyan Sabbath school. They were discharged on the proviso that they were to come up for sentence when called on. On the arrival of the Dunedin train last night at Clinton, a coffin was produced from the van supposed to contain the body of the hon member for Clutha. A buggy and pair, illuminated by torches and Chinese lanterns, and headed by a brass band, drove the supposed body to the cemetery. There guard was kept by some stalwart settlers, who, Avhen they were informed whose the remains Avere, refused them admission on the grounds that being those of a traitor, they were not Avorthy of Christian burial. The corpse Avas then dipped in sheep dip and taken back to the toATnship, where, with all ceremony, it was burnt. At the iuquest on the man Burns to-day, the companions who were with him asserted that it Avas his OAvn gun that Avent off. They, however, were in front of him, and Avhen they looked round they saAv him on the ground and his gun a couple of yards from him. Dr Coughtrey, Avho made the post mortem, deposed that, in his opinion, deceased was not shot hy a gun held in his OAvn hands. The pellets Avere spread over a diameter of Sin, and they Avould not thus spread at so short a distance. The wounds also entered the head transversely, and there Avere no marks of singeing or burning. The jury returned a' verdict " That deceased was accidentally shot by his oavu gun."