RELIEF TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1933, Page 5

RELIEF TRAGEDY

MAN FACES TRIAL

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER

(Per Press Associationr— Copyright.)

CHRISTCHURCH, April 26. Following the death on April 18 of. George Johan Christopher Bank, aged 51, while working on the Summit Road relief works’, Clarence George Gibson, a shepherd, aged 44, also einployed on the same relief works, was charged m the Magistrate’s Court to-da with unlaivfully killing Bank, and thereby committing manslaughter. Daniel Tomlins gave evidence that he was working on the Summit Road on April 18. About 1.20 p.m. he heard an argument jn the gang. He was passing. He thought it was a bit or fun. Witness walked closer. He heard Gibson say Bank was “a loafer.” Bank said that if he was loafing on the job, Gibson was scabbing on the job." Gibson said he would have no one calling him a scab, and he then struck Bank, who fell over the edge of the road. Witness wa snot positive that Gibson’s fist actually struck Bank. Bank fell on his left side, and Gibson then said: "Get up, and I will give you another one I 1 ‘ Witness thought that the rock gave way, causing . Bank to slide down on his face, It was evident that Bank wa? badly hurt, An ambulance was sent for. In the meantime Gibson and'others worked qu Bank, trying to bring him round. Ernest William Robson, .another workman on tiie job, gave a similar account of the occurrence. Gibson had called Bank a loafer several times, and then Bank replied Gibson was a scab. Bank said witness pushed Gibson with his shoulder, and Gibson struck Bank two blows with his fists on the chest,' and Bank fell. He got up immediately, but he fell again, striking his chin on the rock.

Detective McClurg produced a statement by the Gibson.- Accused in . a statement told of a previous conversation with Bankdn which he (Gibson) remonstrated with Bank for loafing. Before the accident,' Bank, who was not working, said to Gibson who was splitting rock:"That will take some of the fat off you.” Gibson called him a loafer, and Bank came up to him, pushed him with-his shouldet and then stepped . .hack with clenched fists. Tt was then that Bank fell off.the road. Gibson denied that any Mow was struck by either man.

Dr. Pearson ,pathologist, /who conducted a post mortem ,said there was an over his heart. Neither, he. thought, was the ca.use of death. There was bleeding into the base of the skull, unaccompanied by^any evidence of injury or disease, There was also a tear in the muscle lit the neck, unneconn naniod by any abrasion , orhrtmug,,,,, This, he , thought, wag caused ' by a 7 sudden jerk of the head and not '• ns- *’ sociated with the injury to the chin. He believed the bleeding into the brain was caused by the same jerking move-. ment of the head, which had hurst a vein in the base of the skull. The jerk might have been an involuntary movement when Bank missed his footing and fell. Gibson was committed for trial. Bail was fixed at £SO, and one surety of £SO.