A MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5132, 14 October 1884, Page 3

A MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

THE " THREE-CARD " TRICK. j BODY FOUND. | DUNEDIN, Oct. 13. | At Kyeburn, in Maniototo County, a two year-old boy named Eliot George, was found in a duck pond a foot deep. The top of his head was dry when the body was taken out. He was found lying on his back with his hands in the air. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict to the effect that there was no evidence to show how the deceased got into the water hole in which he was found, and that there was not sufficient testimony to prove whether he had died from drowning or from fright. William Sims, the man who was imprisoned some time ago for defrauding by means of the " matchbox" trick, made his appearance at the Police Court to-day on a charge of gambling in a railway carriage by performing the " three-card" manoeuvre. The evidence went to show that he had induced a young man to make two bets whereby he was victimised to the extent of £7. Counsel for accused contended that the three-card was simply a betting game, and not illegal. The Resident Magistrate reserved judgment. The body of the missing man John M'Fee was found yesterday afternoon within two miles of the * Serpentine. Though it had been exposed for a fortnight, the body, owing to the high altitude of the locality and the cold weather, was not in any way decomposed. It was snowing when deceased left the Serpentine, and he had got off his horse and lain down to sleep in some tussocks. An empty whiskey bottle was found by his side.