TELEGRAMS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1306, 5 October 1883, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(prom our own correspondent. ) DUNEDIN, 3. It is expected that shortly after Edwards and Scott begin their 24 hours' walking match on Friday ni^ht the Rev. Mr Byng will be present to say a few words appropriate to the occasion, referring to moral and physical training. The Crown witnesses turning up today, the manslaughter case was heard at the Supreme Court. James Roy and Alexander Roy were charged with the manslaughter of John Henderson, a railway fireman, who was shot when on duty on the 23rd August last, as the train was passing through a cutting near the Waiuina statiou on the Dune-din-Invercargill line. Both lads pleaded not guilty. The Crown Prosecutor* opened the' case "with a st-itemfeifr ! '6i the facts* and of the law applicable to it. John Robert Eoy, the chief witness, said that his brother Alexander asked him on the bank for permission to fire, and witness stopped, and drew the shot with the ramrod, and thengave the ramrod to .Mi brother Jame# ;to draw his shot. James' ramrod was a wooden one, without a screw. After drawing the paper out that covered the shot witness turned the muzzle downwards and shook out. the^ lead. Witness then handed 1 hisguWiib^Alax-*) ander to fire it otfY James and Alexander were both going to fire their guns, and just as the train passed they fired. They had made no mention of tiring at the train. After they had fired witness and his two brothers went on home. He stated in crossexamination that the younger boy had never fired a shot in his life before. He had only snapped off caps to blow a candie out. TheXguris are./^pften. kept in the House loaSed.* His 7 Honor summed up, and the jury retired at 3-30 p.m., and after being absent for an hour, returned into Court, and asked some questions with regard to the height of the banks, and curves and grades of the line. TKe jury at 5*25 returned into Court with a verdict of "guilty" against both prisoners, with a recdihtnendation tp mercy, on account of their previous good characters. They did not think that the firearms were discharged with any intention to injure anyone. His Honor agreed with the jury, and said that he would give the fullest effect to their recommendation, which he could consistently with his duty to the public. So far as Alexander was concerned His Honor said that the ends of justice would be met by his father entering into a recognizance for,, his future behaviour. No 'sentence would be passed. The older prisoner was sentenced to two months' imprisonment without hard labor. Wellington, 4. A long meeting of the Cabinet was held to-day, all the members of the Ministry now in town being present,