Another Man Stabbed to Death
THE BRITISH COLONIST, July 24, 1860
On Saturday evening last, at about seven o'clock, a difficulty occurred on the Saanich road, near Dr. Tolmie's house, between two men, named George Snelling and Edmund Simonds, which resulted in the fatal stabbing of the latter. Snelling is employed on a ranch in the country, and was on his way home when the difficulty occurred, while Simonds was reeling about on the road, seeming scarcely able to help himself. Simonds was found lying on the road a short time after the occasion, and conveyed to the Royal Hospital, where he breathed his last in a few moments after reaching there. Snelling immediately after committing the deed, came into town, and gave himself up to the police, stating that he had stabbed the man in self-defense, while the latter was trying to rob him. Doctor Dickson yesterday summoned a jury and held an inquest on the body:
Wm. Robinson (colored) sworn--About 7 o'clock on last Saturday evening, saw the prisoner and deceased walking towards town; both men seemed drunk, and the deceased very much so; they were talking loud; presently the prisoner said, "You d----d thief, you tried to rob me"; he then grappled with deceased, threw him down, got astride of his breast, and raising his hand, struck him (as I then thought) with his fist; but when he raised his hand again, I saw he had a knife in it; there was blood on the knife when he raised it; the prisoner shortly afterward got on his horse and rode into town, as he said, to give himself up. The deceased lay still on the ground; thought he was dead, and started into town to get assistance, and watch that the prisoner gave himself up; the deceased was very drunk too much so to have robbed the prisoner; he seemed begging to be let off, just before he was stabbed; the prisoner could have got away from deceased with great ease, if he had seen fit to do so; when the deceased lay on his back with the prisoner on top of him, he did not have hold of him.
A.L. Newby, a colored man, testified that between 5 and 6 o'clock, he saw the prisoner riding along the road ahead of deceased, who was very much intoxicated; prisoner asked me to hold his horse; I did so, and he got off and went back, picked up a big stick and struck deceased a heavy blow on the forehead with it; deceased did not fall, and a moment after prisoner offered him a drink of liquor out of a bottle which he had tied to the saddle on his horse; while he was getting the liquor, deceased tried to strike him, but prisoner turned and offered him the bottle, which, after some sparring on the part of the deceased, he took, but didn't drink any; we came along into town, and left them in the road talking.
Andrew McLean testified about the same the case until Wednesday, at 10 o'clock, a.m.
Quite a little breeze was raised before the witnesses had been called, by one of the jurymen stating that he believed Geo. F. Nias, another juryman, was incompetent to serve, he having expressed an opinion as to the motives which induced the prisoner to kill deceased, the day previous; and furthermore, that his evidence might be required during the progress of the inquiry.
The Coroner said Mr. Nias had come to him in the morning, and requested to be placed on the jury; but that having heard from respectable sources that he was biased, he had declined to put him on. Subsequently, however, finding that he was short of jurymen, he had consented to place him upon the list.
Mr. Nias rose and declared that he was unbiased; that he had got on the jury to give the prisoner a fair trial, etc.
Mr. Duncan (juryman) said he had no doubt Mr. Nias was incompetent to serve, and that he could not, having expressed an opinion, and the accused having been employed by him, give an impartial verdict.
The Coroner replied that it was too late to put him off now, and he would have to serve.
Mr. Nias reiterated his desire to do his duty.
Mr. Clink (juryman) had been told that Mr. Nias had expressed an opinion, and he did not think he should be allowed to continue on.
Coroner Dickson said that although he had been told by reliable parties that Mr. Nias had expressed an opinion favorable to the prisoner, still he believed he would do his duty.
After some further remarks, Mr. Nias was allowed to remain, and the inquiry proceeded.
The fatal wound was in the neck, the knife passing between the jugular vein and the windpipe, under the collar-bone, and thence through into the chest. All accounts agree that Simonds was very drunk at the time, and Snelling himself rather tipsy. Whatever may have been the causes which led to the killing, it is certain that at the time the fatal injury was inflicted, Simonds was unable to help himself, and was completely at the mercy of his antagonist. The story of Snelling, that three men had attacked him for the purpose of robbery, and that he had killed the deceased while defending himself, needs corroboration. Other facts, however, may be elicited tomorrow, before the coroner's jury, which will throw an altogether different light on the matter. At present the evidence tells fearfully against the prisoner.