A FATAL FIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 102, 30 April 1913, Page 6

A FATAL FIGHT.

—ARBOUR BOARD EMPLOYEE'S DEATH. WHAT THE' WITNESSES SAW. The adjourned Coroner's inquiry into the death of Manuel Santos, who is alleged to have died as the result of injuries received in an altercation with Ilarold Gladstone Brown, while working on the floating crane belonging to the Auckland Harbour Board, was resumed before Mr T- Gresham, Coroner, and a jury of six this morning. Brown, who is under arrest on a charge of manslaughter, was present, inspector McGrath represented the police; Mr Bagnall appeared on behalf of tbe Harbour Board, Mr Fallon on behajf of the widow of deceased, and Mr M. Mahoney was granted permis.iion by the Coroner to watch proceedings on behalf of Brown. SANTOS FALLS IN THE WATER. Aonsca Oljala, foreman in the employ of the Auckland Harbour Board, said that at 3.30 p.m. on April 18 he was engaged on the pile driver on the outside of the Harbour Board's floating crane, which was berthed on tbe outer western tee of the Queen Street wharf. Brown was engaged on the winch. The anchor chain that he was heaving in got jammed. Witness walked along and cleared the chain. Santos was present, and said to Brown, "You have too many turns of the chain round the winch.""" Witness walked away, and when he turned round he saw Brown and Santos fighting. Santos was backing away all the time, and Brown was following him. Santos fell backwards over a wire rope on to the deck. Brown leant over him, and they had hold of each other. Witness went up and separated them, and they returned to their work. Looking round a little later witness saw Brown rinih at Santos and push him overboard. Witness threw a line, to Santos, who held on to it until other workmen pulled a boat round. Santos climbed into the boat and was* helped on to the punt, where he fell backwards on to-the deck. \\ itness and others carried him into the engine chamber. I>r. Tev.sley was sent for and arrived in a quarter of an hour. lirown, who was walking about on deck, came into the engineroom and asked if Santos was dead. When he asked the <|i!Ct--tion he seemed sorry. Santos was a much taller and heavier man than Brown. Witness did not know whether there was any had feeling between the men prior to the affair. To Mr. Mahoney: When Santos was carried into the engine-room he said he was all right. Five minutes afterwards he put his band to his chest and kept exclaiming: "Oh, my heart!"' To Inspector (McGrnth: Just about the time of the doctor's arrival Brown walked away along the wharf. DECEASED'S INJURIES. . Dr. Stanley Arthur Bull, of Mount Eden, who conducted a post-mortem examination on the body, assisted by Dr. Tewsley. said that deceased, who was about 35 years of age, was evidently a Malayan native. On the left cheek and left side of the forehead there wcro small abrasions, but there were no other marks of violence. The' whole of the aorta of the heart was extensively diseased. On the face were two bruises about the she of a shilling, which did not show externally on account of the man's skin. One was near the eye, j>nd the other at the base of the nose. Each of the bruises was in a position where a niiin would be hit by a blow. The cause of death was heart failure following on blows on the head and immersion in water. Dr. Cyril Hocken Tewsley, of Kingsland, stated that Sanies had been dead five or ten minutes before witness arrived. Witness considered that the abrasions referred to by Dr. Bull were post mortem. He corroborated the other medical evidence given by the previous witness. THE ENGINEER'S EVIDENCE. David Penman, engineer on tho floating crane, stated that Santos was evidently interfering with Brown's work, and lie heard 'Brown say: "Arc you boss here'; I*ll take no orders from you." Santos was the first of the two to adopt a fighting attitude. The men then closed. They then "waltzed" round, clinging to each other, and Santos fell over a wire rope. The fighting ceased for a little while, and Santos said something to Brown, who retaliated by pushing him into the -tide. As soon as Santos got back on the punt he rolled over on to his back. Tbe inquest is proceeding.