WORKER'S DEATH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 516, 27 April 1933, Page 5

WORKER'S DEATH

(Press Assn.-

SERIOUS GHARGE ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY BLOW DURING FRACAS FALL OVER BANK

— By Telegraph— Copyright).

Christchurch, W.etdnesday, Following the death on April 18 of George Johan Christopher Banks, 'aged 51 years, while working-on Sum.mit- Road - relief work, Clarenc.e ';George Gibson, a shepherd, aged 44 years, also employed on the same- re- ' lief work, was charged in the Magistrate'p Gourt to-day with unlawfuUy killing .Banks, thereby committing manslaughter. - Dayid Tpmlins gaVe evidence that he was working on Summit Road on 'April 18. About 1.-20 p.m. he heard an argument in a gang which he . was passing. He thought that it was a bit of -fun. Witness walked closer and heard Gibson say Banks was "a — 'loafer." Banks said that if he was 'loafing ih the job, Gibson was scab'bing on the job. Gibson said he would ' have no one calling him a scab, and struck Banks who fell over the edge .of the road. • "Give You Another." 1 Witness was' not positiye that Gibson's fist actually struck Banks. Banks fell on-his left side and Gibson .said, "Get up and I will give you another one." Witness thought that the rock gave way, causjng Banks to slide down, It was evident that Banks was badly hurt and .an ambulance was sent for. In the meantime Gibson and others worked on Banks, trying to bring him round. • - Ernest Wilson Robson, another workman on the job, gaye a similar account of the occurrence. Gibson had ealled Banks a loafer several times and Banks replied that Gibson was a scab, Witness said that Banks pushed Gibson with his shoulder and Gibson struck Banks on two places with his fist and Banks felk He got up immediately, but fell again striking his ehin on a rock. Detectiye McClurg produced a statement by accused. Gibson, in the statement, told of three conversations with Banks in which he, (Gibson) r.emonstrated with Banks for loafing. Before the accident Banks, 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 Banks came up to him pushing him with his ^houlder and then stepped baekward with clenched first. It was then that he fell off the road. No Blow Struck Gibson denied that a blow was struck by either man. Dr. Pearson, pathologist, who conducted the post mortem, said there was an injury on Bank's chin, and a bruise over his heart. Neither, he thought, was the cause of death. Ther© was bleeding in the base of the skull unaccompanied by any evidence of injury or disease. There was also a tear in the muscle in the neck, unaccompanied by an abrasion or bxuise. This, he thought, was caused by a sudden jerk of the head in association with the injury to the chin. He believed that the bleeding into the brain was caused by the same jerking movement of the head. It had burst a vein at the base of the skull. The jerk might have been involuntary when Banks missed his footing and fell. Gibson was committed for trial, bail being allowed in £50 and one surety of £50.