THE NAPIER SENSATION.

Shannon News, 27 January 1925, Page 3

THE NAPIER SENSATION.

FULLER PARTICULARS. DOUBLE CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER. NAPIER, January 26. The sequel of a family disagreement over a 14-year-old boy was a brief, but sensational episode on Marine Parade. Napier, last night, , and the death of William Chalmers Clark, aged 57, timber merchant, of Port Ahuriri. The scene of the fatal altercation was the gateway of No 63, Marine Parade, and the time was about 8.15, and the affair was sharp and short and the story of the events leading up it is almost melodramatic. After the affray, bleeding from a scalp wound and battered somewhat about the face and arms, Clark staggered into the house, where he collapsed and died.

Frank Wilson, the 14-year_old son of Mrs Wilson, With whom Clark had boarded on the Parade, is the central figure in the events that culminated so tragically. The boy’s father died when his son was an infant and subsequently his mother, who was formerly a Miss Breen, sent her child to live with her parents at Mahona, Hastings. The boy’s uncles, John and Maurice Breen, were arrested at midnight last night. They were charged with man. slaughter in the Police Court this morning and remanded. Bail was not allowed. John Breen, a sturdy thick-set man of 32, is a storeman at Hastings. His brother Maurice, slighter in build, is blind in one eye and his head droops slightly on his shoulder. By occupation he is a slaughterman. Both the accused men lived on their parents’ property at Mahora

It is there that the boy Wilson was sent by his mother several years ago. He was still there until last Thurs. day, when he was taken away by his mother and Clark. The boy’s mother asserts that he was ill-treated and over-worked and that fbr these, and other reasons, she wanted the child herself. It was her intention, she stated this morning, to send him to college. Family 111-feeling. It is surmised that in any case there was a great amount of ill.feeling somewhere and the climax thereto was the return of the boy to his mother last Thursday. When Clark, she and others driving past Breen’s property saw the boy at the gate and called to him, he came willingly. It is stated that from the Hastings Post Office Mrs. Wilson sent her sister an urgent wire to say the child would not be returning. The boy was then brought to Napier and stayed at his mother’s house that night and the following day. Mother’s Premonition “Although I had the boy; I had an uneasy feeling that there would be trouble,” said Mrs. Wilson, “so on Saturday morning, Mr. Clark agreed to drive us up to Wairoa and Morere.” According to schedule, the party r eturned to Napier last evening, pulling up at 8.5 outside the house on the Pcur3/dOi “They’re Taking Him!” Subsequent moments were electric with dramatic action. A form approached the car and pulled the boy out from the rear seat. Mrs. Wilson, according to her own story, soreiamed: “Oh! they’re taking him!” Mr. Clark, apparently anxious to intercede, stepped from the car. He immediately came to blows with one of the Breens, who apparently came across the road from the opposite footpath and the pair went down together, Breen on top. The pair were struggling and Clark gained the supremacy

“Have you had enough?” he asked as he“ knocked above his antagonist. “I don’t knoiw who you are,” was the reply Breen is said to have made. Meantime things moved quickly, John Breen', it is alleged, had carried the boy to another car about five yards back along the parade. Mrs. Wilson says she noted the number and then rushed through the ©ate to open the house and telephone for the police. The other Breen' here returned to Clark’s car, ordering his brother back across the road, then he and Clark exhanged blows. Toy Revolver Flay.

Mrs. Wilson asserts that she saw him hit Clark on the shoulder. “I went to the ’phone,” she said, “and tried to get the police. Then Mr. Clark came in His head was bleeding from a wound and in his hand he had a toy revolver—a harmless thing—which had broken at the wooden' stock,” “This is what they had for me!” he said.

‘•I said: 'Oh! you’re hurt,’ and wanted to wash the blood off, but he said ‘no, I want the police to see this.’ He put the toy revolver on the table while I was still at the ’phone and then stumbled forward and crumpled up over the chair. ’M knew he was done,” went on Mrs. Wilson (who was formerly a nurse), “when I heard his breathing and I stopped talking to the police and rang for a doctor.” “Then we gave Mr. Clark water, but he was quite unconscious and vom. ited tip. He died before the doctor arrived, within eight minutes at most. As for the lighting, it was all over in a flash. One of my brothers was evidently waiting over by the sea, while the other was probably in an alley, way by the house. As soon as they got clear of Clark, they drove away with my son ”

Captured at, Hastings. Clark wa s quite dead when the doctor arrived. The police later went to Hastings after the Breen brothers, and they returned at 1 30 a.m. with John and Maurice Breen in custody. The boy, Frank Wilson, is also held by the police in custody at present.

Mr. Clark was one of the principals of Messrs Mason and Clark, timber merchants, at Port Ahuriri. He was a big and powerful man and is said to have been in splendid health. He was a married man, living apart from his wife, but was on good terms with his family and was popular with a large circle of friends. His car, a flve-seater of English make, played a fairly prominent part In the proceed-

logs.' Nothing has been made public concerning the exact cause of his death, but it is known that the result of the post-mortem, conducted irame. diately after the fatality, impelled the police to take immediate action.