AUCKLAND HOTEL AFFRAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 72, 4 July 1910, Page 5

AUCKLAND HOTEL AFFRAY.

AN ARREST MADE.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 2. At 1 o'clock this n.orning the police arrested a man nami Charles linker in connection with th. iffiuy in the Waitemata Hotel, which ..jsulted in the death of Join, .iasoii Price. Tucker, when arrested, u.is about to enter Jus residence. TucKer will appear before the Court today.

Charles Tucker, who appeared at the Police Court, charged with murder in connection with the W'aiteniata Hotel brawl, pleaded not guilty, and was remanded for eight days. Accused is a big man, 6ft. lin. in height, and about twentveight years of age.

ACCUSED DESCRIBED.

AN EXTRAORDINARY iFRACASI

Auckland, Last Night. Charles Tucker, who is charged with the murder of John M. Price at the Waitemafca Hotel, is about six feet one inch in height, loosely but very powerfully built, and from fourteen to fifteen stone in weight. He is 2!) years of age, and is a wharf laborer by occupation. He is well known on the wharves, and is called by his workmates by the name of "Mark." He was born at Gisborne. The other man who, it is alleged, was with the man who struck Price, is named Hurley, and is called by his companions "Paddy." He resides in Newton, j

•The accused man does not deny that he and Price had exchanged blows. Hii story is that he was in the Waitemata ■Hotel for a considerable portion of the' day, having occasional drinks in com-! pany with Hurley. He first noticed Price a Jittle after 5 o'clock, ana lie was already in conversation with Hurley. Promptly they began to fight, and Price ■ struck Hurley'a blow wnich ap-| peared to stagger him. It was then #ha* Ihe interfered. He pushed Hurley out j of the way, told Price to fight somebody I nearer a match for him, and then he j and Price eAhanged blows. He nit I Price twice, but did not see him fall. \Hurley was anxious to resume his in'terrußted battle, and he (Tucker) nad to us<r some force to persuade him to leave the bar. They both left at once, and he knew nothing about what had happened to Price, having left beiore | the confusion and consternation created by the affair had developed. He states) that he did not see Price fall. t

ENQUIRY COMMENCED. NECK NOT BROKEN. SINGULAR OAUSE OF DEATH. Auckland, Last Night. An enquiry was commenced beiore the Coroner yesterday afternoon into the circumstances connected with the death of John Mason Price. Sub-Inspector Hendry asked that only evidence as to identification be taken and the further enquiry adjourned. The Coroner agreed to that course.. Charles Grant, manager ot tue Sailor*' Home, deposed that he identified deceased as John Price. Price told him he was married. Witness had heard that deceased's wife was living at Wagham, England.

Other- evidence of identification having been given, the enquiry was adjourned. It has transpired that the cause of death wag not a broken neck, as was at first supposed, but a much more singular thing. As a matter of fact, a tiny flake was broken off the bone protecting an artery. The flake of bone was forced in so that it severed the artery and thereby caused the man's death. '