ALLEGED MURDER

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 156, 27 March 1920, Page 8

ALLEGED MURDER

BRIGHT IN COURT COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Ueninmin H. Bright was charged before Mr. W. G. Itiddell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday with the Wilful murder of .ltohert M'iN'ab on Tuesday evening, 011 board the s.s. Armagh. Chicf-lMective Ward prosecuted, and Mr. A. 13. Sievwright appeared for the accused. The evidence given by Albert Famsworth. seaman. William John Armstrong, ouartermaster of the s.s. Armagh, and Dr. FvH'e was i.he., same as that given at the innuest on tho previous day.. Dr. Fvfte. cross-examined by Mr, Sievwright, said thero wero 110 signs of injuries to the body. The condition of the stomach would be aggravated by a kick or a fall. Dr. H. S. Faulke said he was summoned to tho Armagh about 8 p.m., but M'Nab was then dead. Ho was present when, Dr. Fvffc conducted the post-mor-tem examination, and 111 the 11111 in he agreed with, tho evidenco of the latter. Witness noticed chronic disease of the oleura. In his opinion the.rc was two possible causes for death occurring in such a wav without leaving indications to be discovered by a post-mortem examination. One was shock following oil a blow over the solar plexus, and the other fatal concussion of the brain. It was 011 record that the latter conditiou had not left any sign after death. Cross-examined, witness said dis-e.-.se of the pleura would affect tho heart, in that it would work more vigorously for respiratory purposes, bnf. it would not have a detrimental effect. A blow over the solar nlexus would have to be a vory violent one to cause death by shock. If the reverse were the case he would be inclined to believe that death' was due to concussion of the brain, and supposing that were so it was nioro probable that the condition was brought about by a fall rather than by a blow. Michael Collins, a trimmer on board the Armagh, stated that, when the accused boarded the vessel, 110 struck witness on the mouth, knocking him down. The other evidence was the same as that given at the inquest. .The accused pleaded not guilty reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.