Page 4 Advertisements Column 1

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7013, 18 November 1890, Page 4

Mysterious Affair at Preston. — The Preston police were lately inf ormed that four boys had been playing on the canal bank at Preston, that one named Bunting had got hold of the chain of a swing crane, and the otherß had pushed the hoist round so that the lad was over the water, that he fell off, and was drowned, the lads running off, having decided not to mention the matter. The police have daily dragged the canal since then, but without result. Oa Sept. 11 a man was getting some sand out for a foundation in a street at the North end of Preston, when his spade struck what proved to be the body of a boy, subsequently identified as Bunting. The body was a foot beneath the surface. The discovery considerably complicated matters. Subsequently Detective Gardner found the two boys who were with the lad when he was drowned. They admitted that two other -boys and Bunting went to have a swing on the crane; tbat Bunting got hold of tho chain and was turned round till he hung over the water, that all the lads save one ran off laughing ; that this boy ran distracted and begged them to come back ; that they did so in time to see Bunting fall into the water ; that one of the lads leaped in and got him out, but not before he was dead ; that they covered the body up and bore it through the streets, it being now dark, in the direction of deceased's home; that when they got near the house one of the lads remarked that they might be blamed for the death if they took the body home ; that they accordingly decided to bury it in the sand behind some new houses j and that they got some slates, scooped out a hole, and laid the body in the earth and covered it up. The whole circumstances are extraordinary, and are being thoroughly investigated. The affair has caused great excitement in the town. James Fraiser was excused from jury duty at PhilAdelphia on the ground that he was over seventy- five years of ago and had shaken hands with Lafayette. JIO.OOO GIVEN AWAY TO BUYERS OF A BOTTLE OF BBEADALBANE WHISKY. ( Shipped by Alwc Ferguson &Co~ Glasgow.' Particulars from all Wine Merchants, Btoxe> . keepers, Hotelkeejsers, and Spirit Dealers. Wholosale Agents— WnuSorular & Co* Danedia HA