The Herald of Wales. — 1888-04-28 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

THE FATAL QUARREL AT CARDIFF.  INQUEST AND VERDICT. On Thursday, at the Town Hall, Cardiff,the deputy•coroner, Mr H. Ll. Grover, held au inquiry into the circumstancea attending the death of Harry Lewis, ship painter, who, as already reported in the Leader, was killed on Wednesday, at the Commercial Dry Dock, in the course of a quarrel with another painter named Michael Rennie. Francis Oldfield said he had been engaged on board the Edinburgh, which was lying at the Commercial Dry Dock. On Wednesday morning he saw Rennie come on board, and heard him call deceased up out of the hold. Witness knew Rennie, who was a painter. When Lewis was called he came up on deck, and I some words passed between Rennie and him. Lewis afterwards left the other, and got on to a ladder leading down into the hold, as though with the intention of descending again. He paused on the third or fourth rung, however, and struck Rennie in the face. Rennie then got on to theladder, and Lewis, stepping on to the beam, tried to shake him off, using both hands for the purpose. Rennie thereupon kicked Lewis in the face. On receiving the kick Lewis held up his hands, and after a few seconds had passed fell to the bottom of the hold. George James had alai been employed on board the same ship. On Wednesday, witness was about to descend into the hold when he heard Rennie call out for Harry Lewis. Witness repeated the call, and then went down to the bottom of the hold. He did not see Lewis wend, but looking up a little later he saw MI& standing on the beam' and apparently, trying to shake Ronnie off the ladder. Rennie kicked two or three times at Lewis, who swayed from side to side to avoid his foot. Lewis eventually relinquished his hold of the ladder, and jast at that moment received a kick in the face. On being kicked he put up his hands, turned half round, and fell to the bottom of the hold. Lewis did not move when he fell, and witness, going on deck for assistance, Rennie walked off. Mr Cooke, surgeon, of James•atreet, Docks, said he was called to see the deceased,and found Ihim lying on the deck of the Edinburgh. He bad a large lacerated wound on the right side of the nose, both bones of the nose being dislocated and fractured. The left eyebrow was cut, and the left elbow had also a small I wound. There was no fracture of any of the limbs, but the neck was broken or dislocated. I The whole of the injuries were such as might 1 have been caused by a fall. After nearing the evidence, however, he was of opinion that the Injury to the nose was occasioned by a kick. The Coroner having reviewed the whole of , the evidence, pointed out that, according to 1 the testimony of Oldfield, Lewis appeared to have been the fillet to resort to violenee, and even afterwards he tried to shake Rennie off the ladder. If, however, Lewis's fall was alit SA Rennte's action, then the latter was responsible. If they thought that they amist decide whether he wag guilty of murder or manslaughter, they must decide whether be of malice aforethought deliberately kicked the other off the beam with the intent to kill him, or whether that kick was given without premeditation in retaliation :for the blow given him by Lewis. The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of " Manslaughter " against the man Michael Rennie.