ALLEGED MURDER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19995, 12 January 1927, Page 8

ALLEGED MURDER.

SEQUEL TO BLOW. FREEZING WORKERS QUARREL. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. (Peb United Pbess Association.) GISBORNE. January 11. The sequel to an alleged altercation between freezing workers was heard in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when Garnet Wolseley M'Minn was charged with murdering Robert Cecil Thelwall. Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., sat in the joint position of magistrate and coroner. Inspector Il'ccles stated that deceased left an hotel at 6 o’clock, being then sober. Accused called him from the opposite side of the street, and a fight ensued, deceased being struck a violent blow on the face, and falling back on the footpath. Thelwall was supposed to have started the quarrel. Evidence was then called which showed that deceased was not addicted to drink, and had left the hotel in a state of sobriety. Describing the affray which led to Tholwall’s death, John Roderick, a witness, said that Thelwall struck the first blow, saying to accused : “How do you like that?” Until struck several times on the face accused had not retaliated. Then M'Minn hit Thelwall under the chin, and he fell backwards. Accused also was _ sober. The medical evidence was that deceased received a fractured skull. His skull was abnormally thin. Further evidence of eye-witnesses was that the men were striking wildly at one another. Detective M'Leod produced a statement from accused, which stated that Thelwall struck him without provocation and he endeavoured to avoid the blows, having no reason to fight, as they had always been good friends. After backing away he had finally to defend himself, and he hit Thelwall in the jaw; the the result that the man fell backwards. Accused was commited for trial on bail of £2OO. Tie magistrate, as coroner, gave a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.