THE WELLINGTON MURDER

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2392, 6 January 1909, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON MURDER

THE INQUEST

[Puess Association.]

WELLINGTON, Jan. 4

The inquest on th.e body of the mail found murdered at Courtenay Place early on the morning of December 27 was concluded to-day. The evidence was mainly in regard t-o the identity of the deceased. Sydney Millott, seaman on the Waikare, said lie was formerly on the ship Dartford. He knew a member of the crew named McCormack. Witness did not know his Christian name. He was usually called “Mac”. The clothing in the morgue lie recognised as being the property of the man McCormack. At the police station he saw a bag which belonged to McCormack. In it were two ties, which witness had given to the man when lie sailed with him in the Dartford. About three months ago witness sawMcCormack in Lyttelton. He recognised the photograph (produced) as that of McCormack (the picture was a photograph of the dead man). Charles Grant, seaman on the Manama, formerly on the Dartford, said lie identified a body in the morgue oil Saturday evening, as that of a man named McCormack, who was at one time a seaman on the Dartford. Three days after witness signed off the Dartford, on the 9th October last, he saw .McCormack going to Lyttelton by the Maori. A week later witness saw the deceased in Wei - lington. He had arrived by the Ripple. In reply to Inspector Ellison vifu'O'- said ho had no doubt whatever about the identity of the body. John Brodolius, seaman, now employed on the Maori, but formerly on the* Dartford, gave similar evidence. Edward Morris, an A.B. on the Maori, stated that be. was formerly on the .schooner Annie Hill. The bodv he saw at the morgue on Saturday was that of a man named McCormack, who was paid off the Annie Hill on Christmas Eve at Lyttelton. McCormack was 43 days on the Annie Hill and would have received £7 lOs when paid off. Witness stated that the deceased left the Dartford about the 15th October. He

saw McCormack several times in Lyttelton. After staging there for about two weeks he joined the steamer Hippie for a trip, and later worked on the Annie Hill, trading between Kaipara. and Lyttelton. On Christmas Eve deceased left Lyttelton and came to Wellington as a passenger in the Maori. Witness saw him aboard in company with a shipmate named Braidford. Witness knew they ileft. their , bags on the wharf, but be never 'heard further of them. Braidford had, however, mentioned to witness that he intended going to Auckland. Deceased took liquor freely when he had money, and when he was “under" the influence” he was very “soft” and could be led anywhere. McCormack once mentioned that he belonged to Liverpool. William Mullin, A.8.-on the Aotea, formerly on the Dartford, gave evidence of identification similar to that of the last witness. Witness knew a seaman named Braidford on the Dartford. He saw Braidford on the morning of- Boxing Day in Manners Street, before 7 o’clock. He bailed witness and said he was going to Auckland that morning; if be could get his bag from the “.left luggage’ office at the wharf. In the meantime Braidford said he was first goto see ‘-‘Mae” (meaning McCormack) to say “good-bye” and indicated that he was going in the direction of Courtenay Place, saying: “We arc living down this way.”

Detective G'assels gave evidence concerning the hags which wore left at the wharf. He ascertained from a shipping office that a sailor named McCormack wars discharged from the Dartford on October 15th. He gave his age as 32 years. —The jury returned a verdict that deceased came by his death by violence at the hands of somo person or persons unknown.