THE SUNNYSIDE CASE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8645, 23 August 1913, Page 2

THE SUNNYSIDE CASE.

CHARGE REDUCED.

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHUHCH, August 22. The Sunnyside Mental Hospital affair, arising out of the death at the Institution last July of a patient named Charles Thomas.-McMeekin, came before the Supreme Court to-day, when Joseph Martin Chapman was charged upon two 'counts that at Christchurch on July 8 he did assault one Charles Thomas Mc'Meekin, so as to cause injuries which resulted in the death of McMeekin, and ■did thereby commit a crime of manslaughter; also, that at Christchurch on the same date, he being then an attend--1 ant at the Sunnyside Mental Hospital, in which Charles Thomas McMeekin, a mentally deficient person, was then residing,' did strike and ill-treat MciMeekin. . The prisoner, who pleaded not guilty, iwas defended by Mr Donnelly, with whom was Mr A. T. Donnelly. Mr T. W. Stringer, K.C., (Crown Prosecutor) appeared for the Crown. The, evidence for the Crown was similar to that given in the lower Court. Mr Donnelly submitted that there was no evidence to go to the jury on the first count, as it had not been proved affirmatively .that death had been accelerated.

Mr Stringer said that, in view of the medical evidence, he did not feel disposed to press the manslaughter charge. His Honour thought this would be the safer course and he accordingly formally upheld Mr Donnelly's contention, thus reducing the charge to one of assault.

The accused, who gave evidence, said when ho opened the door of the room McMeekin immediately rushed to the 'door and struck at.him. Witness avoided the blow and closed with him. They fell on the floor and witness got up and lifted McMeekin up. Wjtnesj! had his left arm round McMeekin's neck and his right arm locked with McMeekin's. Todd had hold of McMeekin's left pan and Stevens had hold of his two legs. McMeekin was trying to kick Stevens. They put him on his bed and held him there till he cooled down. Stevens held his legs and witness stood behind, McMeekin having hold of his right arm with witness's left round his neck. Todd. had hold of his left arm. After McMeekin had cooled down, Stevens put blankets over his legs and then the three went out of the room. None of the three of them struck or kicked McMeekin. He denied that from start to finish he had ever struck or ill-treated McMeekin. He denied having made various statements alleged by witnesses for the, Crown to have been uttered by him. He had occasion to report Duckworth for leaving beds .in a filthy statein the morning. He had cautioned Todd several times for the way in which "he put old men to bed. He had i also reported Sykes.

By Mr Stringer: Steyens's statement that he ;had not gone into the .r.QGm.with the witness and Todd was a •deliberate lie. He also denied having said to Stevens what Stevens alleged he had. He averred that Todd, Stevens, Coakley, Sykes aijd Duckworth, Crown witnesses, had been deliberately telling lies. He admitted having removed a leaf from his report book on account of the statement Coakley had made to him. He had therefore put in a report stating his own .troubles. To his Honour: Ho had been on bad terms with these men., They had a down on him. ''

The hearing lasted till the evening and will be resumed to-morrow.