THE OHUTU FIGHT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17110, 11 October 1917, Page 6

THE OHUTU FIGHT.

FATAL CONSEQUENCES.

-EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST

At the adjoiirned inquest concerning the death of John Morris, at Ohu- . tu. Margaret Ann Morris, wife of the ; deceased, stated that her husband ciime home injured on September 21st Deceased stated that Ashton had caused the injuries. His eye was not the -worst; it was his che.sL. tie asked : for a doctor, and Dr. McDiarmid ar- ',. rived shortly afterwards. Just before . i) a.m. on October Ist, Morris complained that a change had come over ■ *i im V T' lle docto. r was sent for, but death ensued before the doctor arnv- • cd.

Corroborative evidence was given by Maggie Morris and Madge Morris, - daughter and granddaughter of tho ; deceased, with respect to how Morns came by his injuries. .Samuel McUride gave evidence of a . . conversation with the deceased atter ■ the quarrel, Deceased described what ,< , took place, and said, "My eye is not ' the trouble; it's my chest, where the shovpl got me." He said he must have been struck when Ashton was wresting the shovel from him. and that it was accidental. Dr. McDiarmid said that when he called to see Morris on Friday, Sept. 2lsb, he found lam in bod suilenng oxtreme pain m the chest when he moved -or breathed deeply. There was evidleuco of serious trouble to the bones is front of the chest, also an injury co the eye, and abrasions on the nghc : t »rm. Subsequently lie developed Irypottatis pneumonia, but progressed satis- -, - ;actorily. He last saw imp alive on the, ' 2yth September, ins strength being - then good and the piieumoihu was nn- > proving. He received an urgent call on October Ist, and on arrival found . lite extinct. He made a oost-mortem examination that afternoon which dis- _ .closed a transverse . fracture of the breast-bone, and the right rib was, iractured. There was an area of pneumonia at the base of the right iuno*nd a clot of blood in the right veiui nele, of the heart, the Jatier having probably originated from the fracture oh the rib. Death was due to interference with the heart's action caused , by _the clot. On hia fcrst visifc Morris told witness that the injuries were re- - Reived m a struggle with Ashton. the ■ -.chest trouble being caused by a blow iron* a shovel, and the wound on the ~ i-ye was due to Ashton's ring - , t William Thomas Ashton said Morris I ;aysed # him, en * >~« evening of September - -Ist, it ne a\;js trying to burn the show --tfown; the ehiiie was on fire. He offered to assist the deceased in checking , ,-i.he nre, when the deceased said, "You '- -'-pve me assistance; that is what you : * ' have been aiming at for the last twelve ■ . months; but I'll square matters with you. I will settle you before I am off s - - Mi© job.' Witness asked Morris about , - certain women going to inform on him : , ;ior selling milk without a license. He - > then noticed a commotion on the saw- "' tu'- a3li tlu' nlng round, he fqund -, /Momsra a threatening position. 'He ;- -.said, You dirty cur; leave the women ~' out of it." Witness was going away. '. **d M°rns seized a shovel and said; ' w-* glVe you. ass:stance, you thing." , Witness grasped the shovel and after - - i violent struggle he succeeded in getting possession of it and throwing it , away. Witness hit him in the face when Morns came again. He was on good terms with the deceased, and his . conduct that night came as a surprise. ■ ■ Ho accounted for it by him having drink in him. He wore no rings on tho day m question.

, '' TAIHAPE, Oct. 10. . • , r lii 9 verdict at the inquest on John Jlorris; who died as the result of a •' ? ua"'«1 i at tho Box Company's works ,'■ a£ h«tu on October Ist, was: That /■> the deceased. John Morris, died from a ,- " ,clot of blood in the heart, .originating Irom the fracture of a rib, probably occurnna, whilst in a struggle with "Wil- ' ' I 1 Ts? mas Ashton-, but that there is .Jiot suflicient evidence to say how tre fracture came about. ■