A SERIOUS CHARGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10133, 10 June 1924, Page 5

A SERIOUS CHARGE

AUCKLAND MAN'S DEATH.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The death of Albert Neary on June 4 from injuries alleged to have been caused by Wijliam Keir was the subject of an inquest by Mr McKean, S.M., to-day. The deceased's widow said she resided with her husband in rooms rented from William Keir. When they went home at 5.30 p.m. on June 2 the Keir family said they could not enter. Mi- Keir and the deceased had a few words. Keir knocked her liusband down. The deceased got up, then Keir hit him again. He fell, and his ihead struck the gutter. i Constable Orr deposed that he found the deceased lying on the footpath. He conveyed him to the police station, thence to the hospital. Witness produced statements made by Keir in which he asserted that Neary was drunk and abused his sister. He put Neary outside and locked the door. Later Neary returned, still drunk. He went to prevent Mr and Mrs Neary from entering by the window. When Neary struck him with a walking stick he pushed Neary away, arid he fell into the gutter. He" denied having struck Neary on either occasion. The Coroner found that death was caused by a fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain caused by a fall following a. blow struck by William Keir. Death was accelerated by a fall.

Keir was subsequently before the Court, and committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter.