CHARGE OF MURDER

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 77, 24 December 1919, Page 7

CHARGE OF MURDER

CLARENDON HOTEL CASE. By Telecraiih—Prose A«RodUion." Auckland, December 23: Two young men, Harold Percy Stapleton (21) .and Alexander Coppell (20), who were arrested at tho Clarendon Hotel early last Tuesday morning, camo before Sir. Hunt, S.J.f., to-day, on a charge of having murdered Frank Brasier, licensee, of the hotel, who died of injuries .received in a disturbance in tho hotel. Dr. Lauronsofi, TcsUlcnt medical officer at Auckland Hospital, stated that on December 1C deceased was admitted to the hospital. Brasier was theu unconscious. His breath smelt of alcohol. His lower jaw was fractured on the left sido and on the same side of the face thero was ft severe brui6o on tbp cheek under tho eye and a scalp wound near tho top of tlio head. Dr. Hull, who had mado a postmortepi examination-of the body, stated that in addition to tho injuries mentioned by Dr. Lauronson ho found a large bruise, at the back of the- head and small bruises on the body and limbs, as well as small nbrtmions. The skull was fractured. There was slight disease of the heart, but all tho other organs were healthy. Tho cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage following fracture • of the skull. It was/possible that the blow that fractured the jaw also fractured Hie skull, but it was unlikely. It was more likely to have been caused by a fall with some violenco. The bruises on the body wcro practically all on tho left side mid were probably caused by tho fall. Brasier was a very powerfully built man, and- it was obvious - that 'ho had bean bandied severely.

Constable Johnson etnted that while standing in Kuthland Street on the ntelit of December 15 ho heard excited talk in the- Clarendon Hotel. Just afterwards ho was joined by Constable Johnfiton, and heard a noisi , as of somebody falling.to tho floor. Witness and tho other constable walked towards the Groy etntuo and just then tho two accused camo out of tho hotel door and approached witness. Accused Coppell said: "Come up here, I haVe knocked a man out." Stnplcton said that deceased had tried to assault him. Staploton was very much excited. Witaffs and others went upstairs and found deceased lying in a doorway of a room. His head was partly in tho doorway. Deceased was bleeding from the. mouth, nose, ears, and back of tho head Sfcanleton kept fislrinsr witness if ho thought deceased would come round. Ho said: "Constable, I hope you won't make a caso of this." Deceased was subsequently removed to tho hospital. Thero wae a emeJl of liquor from decreased. Mr. Wilson, S.M., who also attended the hearing in his capacity as Coroner, then returned a verdict that the doath of Frank Brasicr had been caused by rore'bral jjemorrhaw following fracture of his skull, tho result of injuries inflicted by Harold Peroy Stapleton and Alexander Coppell. lie added that it wa< quite obvious that tho whole of the facts had. not been disclosed, but there was nifliciont evidence for tho purpose of a Coroner's findinsr. Acoused were committed for trial in tho. Supreme Court on a charge of murder. Mr. Singer applied for bail for both accused, and this wns granted in one surety for each of a proviso being made that aoouscd should' both report each day to the policy