CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER

Chronicle (Levin), 10 April 1946, Page 4

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER

-Press Association

SEQUEL TO WHARF MELEE SEAMAN'S DEATH AT NAPIER

By Telegraph-

NAPIER, April 10. As a sequel to the death of a seaman, Lawrence Crouse, aged 19, in the Napier Hospital yesterday, a charge of mansla-ughter was pr.eferred in the Police Court this morning against John Joseph Roddie, the chief radio operator of the overseas vessel Mohawk Park. Simultaneously'an inquest was held. For the police, Detective-Sergeant • D. McKenzie said that on the evening of April 5 accuSed and another man arrived at the wharf in a taxi. Five other men, who had also ordered a taxi, met the vehicle !when it stopped at the wharf. Accused ordered them away, but the men attempted to' enter the taxi and a general melee followed, during which, in ordejr to defend himself, Roddie struck Crouse. The latter fell and sufferpd concussion, from which he died. ! The Master of the Mohawk Park, Phillip Eric Webster, in evidence, said that Roddie had a good record, and he had never seen him under I the influence of drink. He was not lof-the aggressive typ.e. j IJnder cross - examina-tion, -wit-ness iproduced a log book entry showing that Crouse had 'toeen pne of the j three men who Jiad assaulted a ship's cook at Port Adelaide. I The hearing is proceeding. / I: „