AN ASSAULT CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5108, 16 September 1884, Page 3

AN ASSAULT CASE.

BEDINGFIELD BACK AGAIN. DUNEDIN, Sept. 15. At Naseby, on Sept. 11, an elderly man named Dugald Sinclair was brought up before the Magistrate on a charge of assaulting his sister-in-law, Mrs AVelch. The woman refused to prosecute, and the case was dismissed. Two hours subsequently the woman died very suddenly and Sinclair was arrested for manslaughter. At the inquest the evidence showed the assault was not so serious as had been supposed, although Sinclair had been seen brandishing a knife and striking deceased with a spade. The medical evidence, however, was to the effect that deceased suffered from fatty degeneration of the heart, and her condition was such that death was likely to happen at any moment. There were no external marks of violence. A verdict of death from natural causes was returned, and Sinclair was discharged. Dow Bros., farmers, near Outrain, lost a threshing mill, three stacks of straw, and a quantity of turnips by fire to-day. A barn full of sacks of grain was saved with difficulty. There was no insurance. The fire is believed to have been caused by a child kindling some hedge trhninings. Hugh M'Fadyen, who was Town Clerk of North Eist Valley Borough, died on Sunday. He was seized with an apoplectic fit on Thursday evening, after the excitement of the elections for Councillors, and never recovered. He came to Dunedin in 1547. The flags of tho shipping were at halfmast to-day for the death of Mrs Hackworth, wife of Collector of Customs. It is intended to organise Saturday evening concerts in the temperance interests. The Grange Club, one of our most promising juniors, send a team to Christchurch at Christinas to try conclusions with Lancaster Park Second. Eleven and Linwood. Mr A. Masters, hatter, of Princes street, received the following telegram from the Bluff this morning: — "S.S. AVaihora. — Have come back. Mrs Bedingfield and I were starving in Melbourne. Can we stay with you for a day or two? Answer. A r ici'Oß Bedingfield." Mr Masters sent the short but emphatic reply — " No ; certainly not."