A POUNDKEEPER'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 92, 18 April 1913, Page 5

A POUNDKEEPER'S DEATH.

AFTER A FIGHT. HIS FRIEND CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER. At the Police Court this morning, be fore Mr. E. C. Cutteu, S.M., James Evans, a seafaring man, aged 31 years, was charged that on March 6, by manslaughter, he killed. George Henry Hill. Inspector McGirath prosecuted, and Mr. A. E. Skelton appeared for Evane. Alice Jane Hill said she was the widow -of the late George Henry Hill, poundkeeper for the Auckland City: Council, who had died at the Hospital on March 20. She resided in 13, Upper Pitt Street. She and her husband "were residing there on March 6. Evans had been an occasional boarder at. the house for nearly six years. About a fortnight before March 6 Evans came again to'board at the house. About.seven o'clock on the evening of. March stu, as she was going out to visit a friend, she met Evans outside her house, and lie used offensive language to her. Evans had been drinking heavily during the day. and appeared to be annoyed. She tffent back to the ■house, and spoke to her husband, who thereupon accompanied her,' .to her friend's place. They met. Evans, who .used. abusive language "and.- wanted to fight her husband. Evan*jjjsked her for some money which' she wasr keeping for -him, and «he gave him £2, and went away with her husband.; She did-.not know why Evans wanted to. fight her ■husband, as they, had always' been good friends. Next morning she gave Evans Ms. money, all but £1, and his watch, and chain and ring,-which she'had been keeping for him. He packed up his things ami said he would call for them in the evening. That was in consequence of her liusband -telling , him (he would have to leave. Evans was in an abusive mood when he left in the-morning. He returned between 1 7 and, 8 Q'clock Jin the evening, when they, were having dinner.. Witness.asked -him'to git-down. I and have something, and lie-refueed, and I started using bad language. She asked her husband if she would go and'(etch a policeman, and he said " Yes." :Slic' went away for a policeman, taking her two children with her, and got a firenian at the fire brigade station to ring, up the police station. She was away eight or nine returning she heard voices which induced -her.to go through the;house to the backyard.-. She there saw Evans kick her husband on the left side, while-the-latter was lying across v thechopping ; block : ran -and pushed Evans away, calling him aT dirty .toward, and helped her- -husband r to~ his feet. That was the only blow she saw, but he was -dazed,.,and his face was Weeding. Evans -said..to.her,-"Do you want your face smashed in?'.':.and--struck another blow at Hilly.but'missc.d, the. blow, strik- . ing her on the' side of the face, knock-; ing her -down. She got up and went oiit'of the yard with-ker husband, who-was itill dazed: She -went away to ring 'up the'police',-"but-was" told that they had "arrived, and. wenf back', to find a constable in the .house with her husband and Evans. Evans wa3 taken away.' and with the assistance of a , Mi\ * Mclntyre, who. came in later, aW tended to her husband's -wounds, and pufc him to bed. His face was very much battered about. Dr. Hardie Neill was called in, and, after seeing her husband, he went,.away.a.nd sent Dr./Moir, who had her husband removed to The Hospital, where'lie died onMarch 20. ' To Mr Skelton:^Evans'..Wad;,.been very, iriendlv with!, her husband,' biii she was hot aware that he had assisted 'her bus- 1 band -with -money.; Evans was! an old friend, and he had on occasions bought things for the house, and a coat and ■vest for her husband. On the Monday •(3rd- March)', she-end .her 'husband; had had some drinks with Evans." On the evening of" the sth, her husband and Evans were talking together after she had to bed. It was not true that on the evening of; the ,6th Evans was, knocked, to the ground by. her hus- ■ band, .when she hud come ibaek to the backyard, nor. that she and her husband rushed Evans as he was getting up from the ground, causing him to. strike out in self-defence. She did not know-whether or not her husband had been drinking with-Evans during the afternoon. She* didn't see any particular sign of liquor on her husband. -Dr; Sloir-had called, and when she was'speaking" to 'him. they heard-a fall in the bedroom. ' She went in - and . found her husband on the floor, and she thought he was trying to dress himself.- ; ; .' •: ;•-'..;

' Dr...Moir, who made the post-mortem, examination, described .Hill's injuries,- including two broken ribs, a contusion on the left side, as well as two black «yee. -There was no fracture of the skull, but there- was a contusion under the left scalp, and death was"due to an effusion of blood on the right side of the bimia opposite the wound on the left side of -the head. The contusion on the head might -possibly --have -been - caused by Hill's fall but of bed, when witness "was at the house, ibut in witness.opinion it was.not so caused.. ■".'■ ■■ '"Dr." Maguirei; medical ..superintendent at the Auckland Hospital, said' that Hill appeared to be getting better, when on March 17 he suddenly became, unconscious, and he remained, in that condition till his death on March 20. ~ - .;' .Constable Mclntyre stated that- when he ..got on ': the "scene; of' the .'trouble on the .evening,.of-March. 6,. Hill was ibathing his' face in a room behind the kitchen... Evans ■■ was in ..the.doorway to the. room, with his coat and list off. Hβ was under the : influence; of drink, very excited, and talking loudly. He -said to witness, -111-do for theni.l' Though asked. about the trouble, Evans didn't give any explanation. " Later, accused's explanation was to the effect that the trouble had a«fcen because he could not get back some money' he had deposited with Mrs Hill.-

Evans pleaded "Not guilty," and, reserving his defence, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.. Bail was fixed at one surety of £400 or two' of £200 each. >;■ ':'■ • ••.