BILLIARD SALOON TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 176, 21 April 1919, Page 6

BILLIARD SALOON TRAGEDY

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST AN OPEN VERDICT The inquest into the death of Hezekiah Walter James Turner, who was found shot (lead in the Midland billiard s.-iiooji on the evening of April 10, was concluded on Saturday morning, before Mr. V. V. Erazer, S.M., at tho Magistrate's Court. Robert John Martin, in continuation of his evidence, said that Turner asked witness to show him the revolver. He said "Show it to me!" and, making a grab, caught hold of the. muzzle. Turner then said "Givo it to me till I have some fun with it." Witness went to null it back, and said "Dieken." As witness pulled the revolver away it went oil'. Deceased fell down slowly alongside the wall. Witness could not remember if deceased spoke again after being shot, and lie did not examine him. •• Witness (hen left the room, and outside met deceased's brother, Maher, and a man named Russell. Witness said to them 'I have accidentally shot Taihoa," meaning Turner. Manor then rushed over the billiard room. Martin did not go with him. and he did not mention the matter to anyone except Maher and Russell. Witness then went to Turner's house with Maher, who is deceased's stepbrother. Maher spoke to Mrs. Turner, but witness could not remember what he said. Witness then left Maher, and after trying to get accommodation at two or three boarding-houses finally stayed at the Hotel Bristol. After breakfast on the morning of April 11 witness tventjo'tho polico station, and informed tho police of what had happenod. The revolver produced was similar to the one which witness was .carrying. Witness found the revolver on the afternoon of April 10. It was under a window-sill in the lane Tunning alongside tho New Zealander Hotel. It was lying on the ground, nnd witness, picked it up, and Wit it in his pocket without examining it. Martin did not tell anyone that he had found the revolver until he told deceased on the way to tho billiard room. Witness picked the revolver up on an impulse. After nicking up the revolver, witness had a 'drink in tho New Zealander Hotel, and then went to Turner's house for tea. Witness was not aware that the hotels were closed on that afternoon. Witness had stayed at the Masonic Hotel for two nights, tho Alhambra Hotel for one night, the New Zealandcr Hotel, and had been living at the Caledonian Hotel since' Saturday last. At each hotel ho stayed under his own name. He did not see deceased or May in possession of any papers or a pocketbook in the lavatory. He had not previously seen the circular of tho Australasian T. and G. Mutual Life Assurance Society now produced. (Tho circular resembles nt a glance a .£lO bank note.) Witness did not have any conversation with May on the matter before he saw the police. Witness had a flask of whisky at deceased's home, and May and ha had had some drinks that day. The drinks had affected witness, but he was not. drunk. Ho did not know that it was a breach of the War Regulations to carrv firearms without a permit. When deceased went to grasp the revolver, ho bent down.-, but witness could not say if his head was on a level with witnesses's hand. His head was very close lo the revolver. Witness could not say whether he. May, and deceased left deceased's house together after tea on the evening of April 10. Joseph Tereneo Maher, taxi-driver, 6aid that he was step-brother of the deceased, and lived with him. Witness and RusEoll went to see the election.results, and on 1 the way back mot Martin and May outside the Midland billiard ealoon. May told witness that Turner had been shot in tho billiard snloon. Witness said he could not believe it. Martin was crying, and would not let go of witness. After Seeing deceased, witness ran out and along the street, and Martin followed him. Witness, Martin, and a man named Thomas then went to Mrs. Turner's house, and told her of the occurrence. Martin was nearly mad. Marfin left after'that, and. witness did not see him again that night or the next morning. 'Martin «vas on friendly terms with deceased, and witness, and had some of his meals at deceased's house. He had dinner and tea thero on April 10. Witness knew that Turner had sorno papers in his possession, and he had also seen the circular which resembled a ill) note in deceased's possession. Mar--1 in. was unabla. to give, witness any rational account of the shooting until after lie had. seen tho police. Leonard Russell, labourer, said that he was at deceased's house for tea on April 10. Nothing was said about a'revolver, and Martin was then a stranger to witness. Maher and witness went to see the result of tho licensing poll, nnd on the way back saw a crowd outside the Midland billiard saloon. 'Someone said "TaiJioa is shot." He had seen Turner with the circukr produced. Ho would sometimes joke ' about it on account of its resemblance lo a ,£lO note. He did not know that deceased carried a wallet.

Robert' John. Martin, being' recalled, said that after the revolver was discharged he dropped it somewhere in the billiard saloon. He kept it in his hand after it was discharged. As far as lie could remember he dropped it in the passage by the lavatory. Jean Turner, widow of deceased, said that sho recognised tho circular. Shß" used to work for the firm, and knew that her husband was in possession of one of the circulars. She was in bed when Jlahcr brought the news that her husband had been shot. He did not say how it happened or mention any particular person. Witness never noticed that deceased carried a pocket-book other than a soldier's pay-book and bank-book. Deceased. Martin, and May all appeared to be sober at tea time on April 10

Richard Greeks, ranger, employed by tuts city corporation, said he knew tho deceased as a person who came to tho To'tvn Hull for licenses. On April 10 he entered the Midland billiard saloon between 7.5 and 7.10 p.m. He took, a seat close to the door leading to tho lavatory, and was about five feet from it. At about 7.20 p.m. witness saw deceased. Martin, and May come in, aud Ihev entered the lavatory. After a minute or so had elapsed witness heard a report. He did not think it was. a shot, it sounded dull. May came out first—he had a pocket-book in his hand. Martin followed almost immediately. Witness did not notice anything in Martin's hand, nor did he notice him drop anything. Witness looked for the third man to come out of the lavatory, and on looking over saw deceased. Only a few seconds claused between the report and the exit of Martin and May. Witness did not hear any conversation r,v scuffle in the lavatory. There were iw sounds of disagreement. I'Yodorick Mitchell, architect, of Abel Smith Street, said that about (i o'clock on the morning of April 11 last he found the revolver produced in his grounds. H» handed the revolver to Detective-Ser-geant Rjiwle. Witness's house was nearly opposite that of deceased's. Police Sergeant Henry Martin stated that he saw deceased lying in the lavatorv in (lie Midland billiard saloon, dead. In his right hand he was holding the circular which resembled a «£lO note, 'lie subsequently had the body removed to the morgue. May came to witness, and made a statement similar to tho evidence given at the inquest. There was no sign of any firearms in the billiard saloon. ' ..„«',,,, ■ Plain-Clothes Constable R. G. Black also gave evidence as to producing tho revolver in tho presence of Martin, who "aid that it was similar to the ono he had. This concluded tho evidence. The Verdict.

The following is the verdict: "I find Dint the deceased Hezekiah Walter .Tames Turner, died on April 10, 191!), at the Midland billiard saloon, Manners Street, Wellington. The cause of his death was cerebra] destruction and haemorrhage, caused by a bullet wound in the head. I find mat Ihe bullet which killed ine deceased was discharged from a revolver then in tho possession of one Robert John Martin, and that at the time of the discharge the deceased was endeavouring to obtain possession of tho revolver. His Worship said he would not deliver a more definite verdict for the reason that thero were ono or two points which ho considered required further explw"; ing No precise account of what had occurred bad been given, and this was not

doubt duo to the fact that the men concerned were under the iniluonce of linuor, and were excited and confused at the time of the tragedy. It was not miite clear how Martin obtained the revolver, or why he did not know whether it; was loaded or not, but that may have been accounted for by the fact that he v.-;is somewhat under the inlluence of llouor. lie would also like to know how tin? weapon came to be found at No. 25 Abel Smith Street when Martin said that he had dropped it in the billiard saloon. Further, lie would like to know how it was (hat the circular resembling a AlO note happened to lie in deceaseds hand when he was found dead. It was only fair to add that the three men were on friendly terms, and that an independent witness heard no sound of a strugglo or of a quarrel. „_____