THE FATAL BRAWL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1988, 19 February 1914, Page 6

THE FATAL BRAWL.

TUCKER BEFORE ME COURT CHARGE OF MURDER, A charge of murder was calledi against John Alfred Tucker at the Magistrate's Ceurt yesterday afternoon. Mr. E, \V. Burton, S.M., was on. tlio bench. Tucker was eharged with the murder of John Henry Gallagher, a trimmer, who had been engaged on the s.s.'Makarinii and the case aroso, out -of a disturbance which took place outside the Wellington Hotel, Molesworth • Street, oft Saturday afternoon, when deceased's neck was" broken as the result of a fall after being struck. Cliief Detective JJrobotg conducted tho caso for the prosecution. Accused was represented by Mr. P. W. Jackson*

William Barrett, trimmer ott tho Makarini, gave evidence similar to. that given by him at the inquest. Ho added that he had been a shipmate with the deceased for 3} months, and that. Gal* lagher had always appeared to be a (juiet man. On the afternoon of tho fatality he appeared to have had some drink.

Evidence similar to that given at the inquest having beetf heard:

Mr. Broberg said that ho did lot oppose tho application, but would leaveit in the hands of the-Magistrate, the chargo might eventually be teduced to one of manslaughter;

The Magistrate: At the rnoment 'I must treat it as a charge of murder. There is not sufficient- of the evidence taken to- indicate that it shows 'anything else, and therefore I do not think tbafr-I- shoiilcl depart from the usual course. I will have.to treat- tho chargo as it has been laid, and as it has been treated by theprosccut-ioit-'-namely, murder., ' • Mr. Jackson: Tlio circumstances which surround tho charge- are such tliafc, if Yo;>r Worslirp chose, ybti could use your discretion. ■ I thriiik that, as tho Chief Defective has said, probably the charge will be reduced to manslaughter, and that an" application wotild liavo been made to-day if the' evidence for tho prosecution- had bee.ii finished, you might allow bail. The Magistrate: At the present time, as no application has bucn I'.ade to mljice tto fcharge, bail should net. be allowed. ■; ' After further argiiMß'iit >] is T'orship still adhered to his decision Slot 'to grant bail. He adjourned the case till 11 a.m. on Friday, -whfen the evidence for the prosecution' will probably be ©(included,. - . '