FATAL AFFAIR IN A HOTEL BAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2292, 28 October 1914, Page 8

FATAL AFFAIR IN A HOTEL BAR

DEATH OF A RETIRED CIVIL SERVANT. (By Telegraph.—Press 'Association.) Dunstlin, October 27. Geo. Prain, who retired a year ago on superannuation from the position of ■chief clerk in the Customs Department here, met his death last night in the Gladstone Hotel bar. Ho was apparently wrestling with another man, Ernest Dallas, and fell on his.head. Dallas has been arrested on a charge of manslaughter. ■ Prain was a well-known cricket umpire, and had on several occasions accompanied the Otago team on tour. He was aged 57, and was a widower, with two sons with the- Expeditionary Force. An inquest was opened to-day. Ernest Dallas was present. The evidence of Dr. Church showed that death was duo to rupture of a bloodvessel in the membranes of tlie' brain.- Ht> thought the fall was due to haemorrhage, and was not the result of a- blow.

Chief-Detective Herbert 'said that it appeared that the deceased and tho man in cuatody were strangers when they mot in the bar. Deceased had a doR with which Dallas was making himself free with, and the former told him to leave it alone. They seemed to have had drink later, and to have resumed tho argument. Both were apparently under the influence of liquor, and they got into grips, and deceased fell. The Coroner (Mr. Graham) said he could only find a verdict of meningeal haemorrhage, but he wonld like to have the ovidence of what led to the excitement which caused it, and would therefore adjourn the inquest till ,10.30 a.m. on Thursday.