THE SUNNYSIDE CASE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 93, 23 August 1913, Page 5

THE SUNNYSIDE CASE.

A SERIOUS, CHARGE. {.Per Press Association, j Ckristckureh, August 22. The Sunnysido .Menial Hospital affair, arising out of the death at that institution oi : a patient named Cfias. Thomas MaMeekin, came before the Supreme Court. to-day, when Josepii Martin Chapman was charged upon two counts, that, at Christchureh, ol July 8, he did assault one B Charles Thomas McMeekin, so as to cause bin, injuries which resulted in the death of McMeekin, and did thereby commit flit; crime of manslaughter; and that at Christchureh, on the same date. being then attendant at the Sunnysidt Mental Hospital in which Charles Thorns McMeekin, a mentally defective person was then residing, he die strike and ill-treat McMeekin.

Prisoner pleaded not guilty. The evidence for the Crown wa, similar to that given in the Lowei Court. Mr Donnelly, for accused, submit ted there was no evidence to go t, a jury on the first count, as it hat not been proved affirmatively thai death had been accelerated. Mr Stringer said that in view p.! the medical evidence ,he did not fee, disposed to press the. manslaughte. charge. He thought this would b< the safer course. Ho accordingly formally.upneld Mr Donnelly's- contention, thus reducing the charge to oik of assault. ,J " : ' Accused, • who gave evidence, can that when lie opened the door of ii). room, McMeekin immediately rashec to the door and struck at him. Wit ness avoided the blow and closed wit' him. They fell on the floor, witnee falling on top of McMeekin', "Wit ness got tip and lifted McMeekin up Witness had his left arm' round Me Meekin, and his right arm locked wit! McMeekin's. ; Todd had" hold of Mr Meekin's left (arm, and Stevens ha< hold of his' two legs. McMeekin via: trying to kick Stevens. They put hiu on his hed and held him there til lie cooled down. Stevens held hi legs. Witness stood behind McMeekin, having hold of his right am with liis left, round his neck. Todo' had hold of his left arm. After Mc Meekin had cooled down, Stevens pu' the blankets over his legs and the; the three went out of the room. Noin of the three of them struck or kicked McMeekin. He denied that from start to finish lie had ever struck or illtreated McMeekin. He denied bavin;, made the various statements alleged by witnesses for the Crown to linn been uttered by him. He had occasion to report Duckworth for leaving tin beds in a filthy state in the morning. Ho had cautioned Todd several timer, for the way in which lie put old men to bed. He> had reported Sykes.

To Mr Stringer: Stevens' statement that lie lin<l not gone into the room with witness was a deliberate lie. He also denied having said to. Stevens what Stevens alleged he had. He averred that. Todd, Sterens, Coak ley, Sylces and Duckworth, Crown witnesses, had been deliberately telling lies, 110 admitted having removed a leaf from 'the report book on account of a statement Coakley made to him He had, therefore, put in a report stating his own troubles.

To His Honor: He had been on ba< terms with these men. They had : "down" on him. The hearing lasted till the evening