MAN KILLED IN PIE STALL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 658, 9 May 1929, Page 1

MAN KILLED IN PIE STALL

Arrest of Petty Officer FATAL BLOW WITH SAUCE BOTTLE Press Association WELLINGTON, To-day. A PETTY OFFICER of H.M.S. Diomede, Eric Matthews, has been arrested on a charge of murdering Jack A Stevens, a married man who was found lying in a gutter in the Post Office Square by the police early yesterday morning.

It is stated that the two men had an argument at a .pie-stall in Customhouse Quay about 1.30 a.m. The attendant, George Orme, states that his back was turned when he heard a sudden crack like the breaking of a bottle, and, turning, saw that a large bottle of sauce had been taken from the counter. It was this weapon with which Stevens was struck. The injured man left the stall and was found by the police about half an hour later. He died at three o’clock without regaining consciousness. A post-mortem examination was made yesterday by Dr. P. P. Lynch, pathologist at the Wellington Hospital, and an inquest is to be held today. The inquest opened to-day before Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M. Matthews was present under arrest on a charge of murdering Stevens. Chief-Detective Lopdell appeared for the police, .and Mr. O’Leary represented Matthews. George Orme, employed in the pie stall, gave evidence that a number of men were in the stall, including deceased and six naval men. Deceased was talking about women in general and his wife in particular in disparaging terms. A protest was made at Stevens’s remarks. Subsequently he heard a smack and saw a sauce bottle being replaced on the counter. Stevens left the cart. He returned later and mubled “if I die someone will hear about it.” Whatever trouble arose, said witness, was caused by the conduct and conversation of deceased. Dr. P. P. Lynch, who made a postmortem examination, said that death was due to extradual haemorrhage and compression of the brain arising from fracture of the temple bone. The particular part of the skull struck was the thinnest portion. Frank Edgar Wether, petty officer of the Diomede, said that deceased and another were haying a heated argument. Deceased threatened to clean up the other man. The conversation was not fit to listen to. There was a scuffle. Witness went outside and caught hold of Matthews, who

was very excited. The injured man was running down the road. Evidence was given by the police of the finding of deceased in the street and liis subsequent death at the station. Detective Kean, who interviewed Matthews, said that Matthews made a statement to the effect that he was annoyed at reuarks made by Stevens about his wife and sister, and hit him. He could not recolect where he hit him. or what he hit him with. The coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, stating that the fracture of the skull was inflicted on deceased by a blow with a bottle from Matthews. The preliminary hearing of the murder charge was then taken before Mr. E. Page, S.M. Evidence at the inquest was sworn to by witnesses. Accused was remanded till Wednesday next.