SUSPECTED FOUL PLAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 268, 8 August 1919, Page 8

SUSPECTED FOUL PLAY

A WHARF LABOURER'S DEATH DOCTOR REPUDIATES THEORY OF ACCIDENT The presumption that George M'Kinty, a wharf labourer, who was found dead in the Parliamentary grounds on Tuesday, had died as a result of accidentally -falling and striking his head on a stone Step was repudiated by Dr. Kington Fyffo at the inquest yesterday, when he stated that the nature of the injjiry sustained by the deceased suggested foul The Coroner (Mr. TV. G. Riddell, S.M.) was on tho bench, and Acting-Senior Sergeant Wade conducted the inquiry. Evidence as to a post-mortem examination was given by Dr. W. Kington Eyffe, who said that there was ( an abrasion on the right, leg and an irregular depression, ab'out two inchcs long," in the back of the skull. The skin had not been broken. Further investigation revealed the fact that the brain was much depressed. Death was due to a fracture of the causing compression of tho brain. The fact that the scalp was not cut through pointed to'the injury having been caused by direct violence with a blunt instrument. A fall was unlikely to produce such an injury, and further the absence of fresh blood round the wound was very notable, pointing to. the fact .that the blow, probably caused immediate death. In witness's opinion exposure was certainly not the cause of death. Sergeant Wade: Do you consider that the injury could not have been caused by the deceased striking his head on a concrete- step as ho foil." Witness: I think that most*unlikely. If ha had fallen on .a rough surface the scalp must have been torn. liemondous violence must have been used to cause such an injury., Had the deceased fallen from a height the injury might have been caused by his head striking the step, but even then the blow would have cut tho scalp. Constable AV. Philps said tliat he was called to Parliament grounds at about 7 o'clock on Wednesday morning, and there found the deceased lying in the right-of-way between the new and the old Parliamentary iTuildings. Tho body wa-s lying at full length right across tliß Tight-of-way. Ho removed, the body to the Morgue, and in the clothes were found a wharf labourer's booklet and the sum of 4s. As tho body , was lying the head was about two inches -from a cbiinretu step. . . ~, , „ The Coroner: You examined the stepr Witness: Yes; it had a rounded ; edge, and, in my opinion, deceased's injuries might have resulted from his falling mid striking his 1 head on the step. _ '['ho Coroner: Was there any hair on the edge of the step?

Witness: iN'o. William Haydn, waterside ..worker, residing at No. 202 Sydney Street, said that the deceased had lived with him for about two years. Ho was a single man and about B5 years of age. On Tuesday witness and deceased had a' drink together at the National Hotel, and this was the last ho 6aw of him. He vfRS sober, and when ho left said that he was going to the wharf at 1 p.m. The deceased did not always como to the house for his meals. He was a fairly temperate mail, and as a rule he came home by way of tho riglit-oi* way where ho was found. Ihis was a short out to his homo Witness knew that deceased had a cousin residing at Waiigauui. lie became alarmed when ho found that deceasod had not come home. Tho Coroner: Was deceased of a quarrelsome disposition, or do you know if anyone had a grudge against hi®. Witness: No; lie was argumentative and talkative, but not quarrelsome. 1 don't think he had any oueimes. The Coroner decided to adjourn tho inquest' till 9.39 o'clock to-moi row morning, in ■ order to permit of furthei inquiries being made as to the movements of the doceased after he was last seen alive by the 'witness Haydn.