FATAL STREET AFFRAY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3116, 21 June 1917, Page 9

FATAL STREET AFFRAY

DEATH OF PARKER

CHARGE OP MANSLAUGHTER

In the Magistrate's Court yesterday, boforo Mr. L. G. lteid, S.M., William Reynolds was charged that on. May 30 ho did commit manslaughter by wilfully killing Bert Parker. Mr. H. i\ O'Leary appeared for accused, and Inspector Marsack conducted the prosecution.

The evidence for the prosecution was praotically the same as that given at the iuquest on Parker..

Dr. Henry stated that Parker had a scalp wound at the back of his heajl, and his lips were bruised and showing; signs (hat they had been bleeding. The man was suffering from concussion. Witness ordered his removal to the Hospital if he did not become conscious within an hour. To Mr. O'Leary: Parker's condition was not due to being under the influence of liquor; he had a slight smell of alcohol about him. The scalp wound was not severe. There was no indication that the skull was fractured. From tho external injuries there was nothing to indicate that the brain was lacerated.

Dr. J. F. Mulholland, houEe surgeon at •no Hospital, deposed that Parker was admitted to the institution about 11 p.m. on May 30. Witness examined the man and found ait abrasion at the back of the head, and there were signs that bo had boen bleeding at the mouth. Parker was semi-conscious at tho time, and could not give an account of himself. He never recovered complete consciousness. At about 1 p.m. on the following day ho was opcr. ated on by Dr. Barclay, but he never rallied, and died that evening. Witness waa present at tho post-mortem examination made the following day. The external marks shown were abrasions on the back of the head and the left cheek, and a Blight abrasion on tho forehead. The Bkull waa not fractured, but there was a clot of blood on the brain, and a small portion qI the brain was lacerated. Death was flue to hemorrhage of tho brain. The 'Sjurie's could have been caused by a blow and the resultant fall on some hard substance.

■ To Mr. O'Leary: The external abrasions were not severe. From the external injuries witness was surprised to find the brain lacerated, but from the general symptoms he was not surprised. The abrasion at tlio back of the bead was the most severe of the external injuries. The laceration ot the brain and the clot of blood were on the opposite side to the abrasion on the back of the head, but this was not an unusual thing. The rnpture of a blood-vessel would cause a blood clot. He aid not think a man could walk about with a ruptured blood-vessel on the brain and appear normal. Ethel Parker, widow of the deceased, .Stated that on the night of May 30 she met her husband at the corner of Dixon and Willis Streets. He was talking to Mr. and Mrs. Dully, and witnesß joined the party. Her husband was quite well then, and had been in good health up to that. time.. .While witness was talking to Mrs. Dufty, her husband went into Te Aro Uotel with Mr. Duffy and a soldier. The accused, who was in the street, came up to witness and Mrs. Duffy and made a rude suggestion to the latter, which lie repeated to witness. Her husband came put of the hotel just about then and joined witness, who complained to him about 'accused's conduct. Witness was walking arm-in-arm with her husband when accused camo up from behind and thrust his hand between them. With that her husband turned round and was struck on the mouth by the accused with his closed fist. Her husband was knocked down,- the back of his head striking the ground. Witness caught hold of Reynolds, who said, "I have given him ono that ho will remember for some time." When the constables appeared on the eceno witness told them Reynolds had struck her husband.

To Mr. O'Leary: She was living at 115 Dixon Street at the time. Her husband had not worked in Wellington. They came from Ohakunc about four weeks previously. Sho had been married to Parker about nineteon years. She had not quarrelled with her husband in the street. She would deny striking hor husband over the head with an umbrella in Vivian Street. Sho refused to say where Mrs. Dully was living.

John Eobcrtson Martin stated that ou the night of the assault ho was coining down Dixon Street from the direction of St. John's Church. Ho saw Mrs. Parker, accused, and a soldier standing under a verandah in Willis Street. When witness got nearer them he saw Mrs. Parker trying to strike Reynolds, and tho soldier endeavouring to stop her. Parker camo along later with it woman; there was some conversation between them, and the woman took hold of Mrs. Parker, Royuolds camo up behind tho women and witness heard him say to Parker, "You are a bludgor. You aro a nice man." Witness saw Reynolds hit Parker, who fell down and collapsed. He did not see Parker hit Reynolds. He was about twentylive feet away when he saw the blow struok. Mrs. Parker caught hold of Reynolds, and said she would hold him until the police came.

Ronald M'Nab, foreman at a wholesale clothing factory in Diion Street, deposed to witnessing the occurrence. Ho heard Mrs. Parker say to Reynolds, "Don't you insult my husband," and saw Mrs. Parker smack him on the face. Parker then came out of tho hotel and took up a threatening, attitude Presently witness saw Parker falling on tho tram-lino in Willis Street. Witness went, along and helped to rcmovo tho injured man to the footpath. Reynolds acknowledged that he had hit Parker, and said: "If there were any more in the crowd like him, I would hit. them, too." When the constables arrived, Reynolds asked them three times. "Do you want me? If so, I,will come."

Constable Frost stated that when lie arrived on tho.scene Mrs. Parker said sho had held Reynolds to prevent, him escaping. Reynolds said: "It's all right, constable, I don't want to run away." Reynolds stated that he met Parker in the hotel and- the latter asked him a certain question, and when ho was taken out to Mrs. Parker he said "This is no good to mo."

To Mr. O'Leary: He had known the Parkers for two or three weeks. Ho had taken notice of them because they were consorting with reputed prostitutes. Parker had been loafing about, and gave witness the impression of being a "bludger."

Constables.Withers and Black also gave evidence.

Accused reserved his defence, pleaded not guilty, and was committed to tho Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in the sum of £75 and one surety of £75, as previously.