HEARING OF MURDER CHARGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2838, 27 January 1925, Page 2

HEARING OF MURDER CHARGE.

RESULT OF DRUNKEN ALTERCATION. Dunedin, Last Night. • At the Police Court, Phillip Gordon Sutherland was charged with the murder of John James Ryan. Wilson Jeffereson, a farm labourer, stated that deceased was on flic Ranfurly-Dunedin train on December 23. When deceased rose to his feet at Middlemareh, he fell on a spittoon, badly cutting his head, lie seemed stunned for some time. Jeanie Copland, storekeeper, at Dunedin, stated that accused entered her store on the evening of December 23 with another man. Ryan came in and asked where he would get the ear. Accused told him. Both Ryan and accused were under the influence of drink. Ryan said something nasty to accused, who replied: “What are you coming at.” Later, Ryan struck accused and ran from the shop, followed by accused. A minute later witness saw deceased lying on the footpath near the shop and accused kicked him twice on the head.

Further evidence was given by eye-witnesses of the alleged occurrence and an unsigned statement was produced by the police in which accused stated that he remembered little or nothing of what had happened. He recollected having a light with a man hut he could not recall the details. He did not remember 1 kicking anyone. Accused, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial in the Supreme Court.