BRAWL IN AN HOTEL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1986, 17 February 1914, Page 8

BRAWL IN AN HOTEL

THE SEQUEL.

CHARGE OF MURDER

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.

The circumstances of the death of John Henry Gallagher, a trimmer on board the Tyser '. liner, Makarini, who died after, an affray outside the Wellington Hotel, in Molesworth Street, on Saturday afternoon, were tho subject of an inquiry, before the Coroner, Mr: W. G. Biddell, S.M.,* yestcrday afternoon. . Sub-Inspector Sheehan represented the police; Mr. J. J. M'Grath watched the case for Mr. U Jansen, licensee of the Wellington. Hotel, and Mr. P. Levi, for Mr. T. M. Vulford, watched the case in the interest of John Albert Tucker, who is- under arrest on a cha-rge of, the murder of tho deceased.

William Barrett', a seaman on the Makarmi,. said that he met deceased at the Wellington Hotel on Saturday afternoon. Tucker was. also ' present. Witness had one drink-with the deceased. .. That was the only drink, to »s knowledge, that-the deceased had had. _Obsceno language was used, and an objectionable term was applied to another man by Tucker. : The barman ordered Tucker and the deceased out of the bar. Witness stayed in the bar, and. deceased went out. He came back again, and deceased and Tucker were ordered.out again. When' deceased came back he asked Tucker whether tho word used previously was intended for him. Tucker replied; "You ban take it either-way you like." Deceased then struck Tucker/ The two' men Were put out. Witness did- riot follow, and the next he saw was deceased lying on. the' pavement with constables and others round him.

. . Struck oh the Head. 'Charles Sullivan,. a fireman on the Makarmi, said that on Saturday afternoon ho went to the Wellington Hotel, with threo shipmates, including deceased. . They had four drinks each, incy met there, a' man named "Charhe. . After the drinks thoy returned to the ship, had some tea, and -returned to- the hotel about four o clock, and had one drink more. Witness did not see what' took place in the hotel, as he went away for half an hour. ' On his return Gallagher was standing outside the hotel. , He said he had been called a —— —, arid would "wipe the'floor" with a man. Witness and others tried to persuade him to come. away. •He went inside, arid said something to Tucker. Both came outside, and- deceased struck Tucker in the face, fucker struck him back, hitting him on the left side of the Face. .Witness.did not hear any words used.' Deceased fell on the road, arid h'is head struck the. road. Ho lay there for a few seconds, and he was then carried to tho pavement. . The police and a doctor arrived,. and the doctor . pronounced life extinct.... , Witness heard no' insulting >jvords. used. ~G c° /se . Albert Smith,' a.trimmer on the Makarmi, sirid he was.'with the deceased'at the Wellington'Hotel'about 4.30 p.m. on Saturday. "Charlie" and Barrett were talking in German, arid deceased was listening. "Charlie" said ho had travelled the ocean, and Tucker said ho hadn't. Witness went out of the hotel for about five minutes, and when he came, back deceased was standing on tho footpath. ■h'.'Se said'a man in. the bar had called'him a , and "?.would wipe the floor with him. He did not mention any particular man! Ga agher went into the hotel, and walked up to Tucker, and said: "Who's a —— ? ■ Tucker went, to strike deceased, and several men held him back. Gallagher walked outside, -and Tucker came out afterwards. They went into the middle of the road, and "shaped up.' Tucker struck Gallagher on the face, and ho fell. Witness saw no other struck. Deceased never moved again. To tho Coroner: Tuoker was, not under the influence of liquor. He .had only come into the bar five minutes before this. -Deceased wasunder tho influence of liquor. The Coroner: Was he very drunk? ■ Witness: No: ho could walk straight. He was just silly. Sub-Inspector Sheehan: Could you say how many_drinks he had had?—" No." Mr. Levi: You say they were "shaping up", in the road?—" Yea."

Did you see Gallagher strike Tucker?—" No."

The Barman's Evidence. Henry Wood, barman at the Wellington Hotel, detailed what took place in the |hotel during the afternoon. There were about twenty men in the bar. 'Ho saw deceased, who was there about an hour before Tucker arrived. Some words were said, but he could not say what they wore, as there were so many in the b'&r. He thought Gallagher had had. enough drink, so ha ordered all tho seamen out. He heard the word complained of used,- but' could not say who used it. About twenty men left the bar. . Witness saw Gallagher go up to Tucker, and "shape up." Witnes3 said:. "Stop that game.". No blows were struck, and witness ordered them out. Deceased might" have had three or four drinks. He thought it was three, and the drink was cither beer or "shandy." " After Gallagher went out of the bar .the first time, he returned and asked for another drink, which witness refused to serve, as he thought he had had enough. Witness did not see what took place in the street, but when he saw deceased on the footpath he sent for some brandy and water.

Mr. Levi: Have you any. idea who used the word ?—"I haven't any idea. It is a common word, used every day."

Do you think Tucker used it?—"l don't .think so."

Charles Henry Scott, a trimmer: on the Malcarini, said he did not hear any altercation in the bar. He had gone out for a time. When ho came back ho hoard Tucker say he would clear the house if Gallagher did not get outside. He naid this to Gallagher. Witness saw Tucker and Gallagher "spar up"-to. one another in the street. Gallaeher hit ono blow, and Tucker returned it. Gallagher fell. Those were the only blows witness saw. Deceased had had too much liquor, but Tucker seemed to bo all light. John Cecil, known as ■ "Charlie," a wharf labourer, said ho was in tho Wellington Hotel on Saturday afternoon. He heard tho word applied to s'omebodyj and Gallagher took it to apply to_ himself. Witness did not see anything take'place in tho bar, but.in.the street he saw Gallagher taking his coat off. Ho saw Tucker strike a blow, but did not ree Gallagher strike any blow. Constablo Grant said that f.t 5.50 p.m. on Saturday he was called to tho Wellington Hotel, whore ho saw deceased. Ho rang for a doctor, who pronounced life extinct, and witness removed the body to the morgue. Ambrose Patrick Lebin, postal clerk, stationed at Wellington, said.that on Saturday afternoon he was.travellingion a tram to Newtown. He saw a crowd near'the Wellington Hotel, and saw a man falling. He got out.of the tram and wont to the hotel. A Mr. Price was working at tho man's arms, trying to rostore the circulation. Witness said: "It's all up, Price, tho man's dead." Witness saw deceased falling, but did not see anybody strike him. Tucker was there. . At this stag©' the iuquest was. adi jounied till 4 o'clock this aEteruoon,

when tho doctor's evidence- will bo given. Accused Formally Charged.. .At tho Magistrate's. Court in the morning, Tucker was formally charged with the murder of John Henry Gallagher, arid oil the application of Inspector Hendry was remanded tiJl Wednesday, Inspector Hendry- intimating that ha might havo to apply for a further remand on that date.. Mr. Wilford appeared for accused. He said ho would not ask for bail then, owing to the absence of evidence. After tho inquest the charge would probably be reduced to manslaughter, when ho would apply for bail. . ■