FATAL AFFRAY IN WELLINGTON.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11436, 18 January 1892, Page 2

FATAL AFFRAY IN WELLINGTON.

A DRUNKEN QUARREL,

(Per United Press Association,)

Wellington, January 16.

In a drunken row, which occurred in a house off Ouba-street about I o'clock this morning, a man named tlarry Crawford, a stevedore, lost his life. Some persons, walking down Cuba-street aboat the hour stated, heard a woman crying " murder." They followed hor to the house of William George Eaines (stevedore), -where, on a verandah at the back, they found Crawford lying doad with a large wound on his forehead. The woman, who was the unfortunate man's wife, said ho had been mnrderod. On tho police making inquiries, they learned that the affair was the outcome of a drunken row. According to Mrs Crawford's statement, she and her husband weio drinking 1 in Eaines' house, when Rajnes commenced beating his wife. Crawford interfered, whereupon Eaines struck him a severe blow, which felled him to tho ground, and after which he never moved. Detective Campbell, after making investigations, arrested Raines shortly before 10 o'clock on a charge of wilful murder, which will, in all probability, bo resolved into a charge of manslaughter.

Raines, who did not appear to have completely recovered from his drinking bout, was brought up at the Police Court this morning and formally remandod. Crawford has beon in ill health some time, and was brought up on a charge of lunacy a short time ago.

Raines states that he never struck Crawford, and his wife supports him, but all four were so drunk that Kainos admits he remembers very little of what took place. It seems that Crawford and his wife took Mw Raines home drunk, and this annoyed Eaines, who began beating her, whereupon Crawford interfered with fatal results.

Later.

Medical testimony was given at the inquest on the body of Henry Alexander Crawford, who met his death under suspicious circumstances in a house in Cubastreot, to show that deceased had boen sufforing from affection of the heart for somo years, and he had also undergone treatmont for congestion of tho liver and the after effects of drink. Ho had boen drinking tho day previous to tho occurrence, and had been warned to avoid excitement in connection with tho election, which, in tho weak condition of his heart, would have been very dangerous.

In her evidence, the wife of the deceasnd, said she was quite certain that the fatal blow was dealt by Eaynos and was nof caused by a fall.

Two of Raynes' sons, who were in the house when the row occurred, swore to seeing Crawford walking about the yard after the time Raynes was said to have felled him to the ground. L^TJSST. The jury gave a verdict in accordance with the medical tpstiroony " That Crawford died from natural causQs,' 1 Baines, who was arrested in connection with the unfortunate affair, has been admitted to bail, himself in £200 and two sureties of .£lOO each. Ou Saturday next, when Raines will re-itppcar before a Magistrate, no evidence will be offered by the police, and ho will be discharged.