SATURDAY'S FATAL BRAWL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1987, 18 February 1914, Page 8

SATURDAY'S FATAL BRAWL.

INQUEST ON THE VICTIM,

DEATH FROM A BROKEN NECK,

The inquest on John Henry Gallagher, 8 trimmer on board the Tyser liner Makarinij who died after an affray outside the Wellington Hotel, Moleswerth Street, on.Saturday afternoon, was continued before the Coroner, Mr. W. G. Ridtloll, S.M., yesterday afternoon. SubInspector Sheehan represented tlio police; Mr- J. J. M'GratU watched tho csso for Mr. C. Janssn, the licenseo of the Wellington Hotel, and Mr. P. Les-i, for Mr, T. M. Wilford, appeared iii the interests of John Albert Tucker, who is under arrest on a charge of the murder of tho deceased.

Dr. Fyffe, who held a post-mortem examination on tho deceased, 6aid that the body was that of an able-bodi-ed man, with an old scar on. tho left shin and another at the right anglo of tho mouth. There was a recent bruise exactly on the angle of tho jaw, on the left side. I'he man's neck was broken. Tho cause of death was fracture of the vertebrae of the neck, causing compression of the cold. Deceased was probably about 32 years of age. Sub-Inspector Sheeban told witness that the evidence disclosed that one blow was struck, and deceased fell hsavilv and neyor regained consciousness, Witness said that either a blow of the nature described or the -fall would cause the fracture, and would cause instantaneous death.

• The Coroner said that he did not intend to review the evidence for the reason that the person who had engaged in an altercation with deceased was under arrest. The only conclusion which could bo drawn from the -evidence Was that- deceased diod at Wellington, on February 14,1914, from a broken neck, caused by a fall in the street as tho result of a blow in the face from John Albert Tucker.