WELLINGTON SHOOTING TRAGEDY-

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2753, 7 March 1910, Page 5

WELLINGTON SHOOTING TRAGEDY-

INQUEST ON VICTIM.

fPjai Piiess Association.) WELLINGTON, March 5. An inquest concerning the death of Christopher Smith, the victim of last night’s shooting affray, was held todaj Evidence was given by one witness to the effect that he saw Smith seemingly hit Corkhill, who fell on the footpath, and lay there a minute or so. When Corkhill a-ose he put his hand in his pocket and drew out a revolver, which h c > fired. Smith stood a second or so, and spoke to Corkhill. Then he walked away. Witness next saw Smith laying dead in the passage of the house. The jury returned what the Coroner interpreted, with the jury’s ultimate consent, as a verdict of wilful murde v Corkhill was formally charged, and lemanded till Wednesday.

inspector Ellison’s evidence at the inoucst showed that Corkhill informed him he only drew the revolver in self defence, as Smith threatened his life. Corkhill apparently did not know Smith was dead, for when told so, he said: “Oil, God, I did not intend to kill him. What I did was in my own protection. He struck me on the jaw. I fired at random. I was on the ground when I fired.”