MURDER CHARGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 2, 3 January 1925, Page 5

MURDER CHARGE.

DEATH OF JAMES RYAN. DUNEDIN STREET ERACAS. SUTHERLAND REMANDED (By Telegraph—Pr-ss Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. Philip Gordon Sutherland, charged with tbe murder of John .lames Ryan, 53 years of age, on December 23. was to-day further remanded for a week. I The affray, arising from which Fhilip Gordon Sutherland stands charged with murder occurred at the corner of St. Andrew Street and Cumberland Street shortly after 7 p.m. on December 23. A man, at lirst unidentified, received injuries which, it is alleged, caused his death in the Dunedin Hospital shortly afterwards. The body was Utter identified as that of John James Ryan, a labourer, aged 53. who had been working for the Public Works Department in various parts of Otago for the past twelve years. Two brothers —Allien Norman Sutherland (23 1 and Philip Gordon Sutherland CJI I — were detained by the police in connection with the alfair. The older man was (as lie himself said I released from Mt. Helen Prison two weeks previously after serving a term of imprisonment on another charge. Tbe police supply only meagre details of the affray. It is stated that the victim of tiie occurrence accidentally ! bumped into one of tho Sutherlands. It lis alleged that the latter instantly I knocked him down and kicked him about the body, and it is stilted that there were eye-witnesses of tbe affair. A small boy ran to the Kire Brigade station at about 7..'50 p.m. and reported tbat a man was lying on the footpath badly injured. The ambulance motor was despatched, and the man was taken to the hospital. He was admitted shortly before S o'clock, but his injuries were such that he died just afterwards. The police were notified of the affair, and a bright look-out was kept for the two men, who. in the meantime, had disappeared. They were found at about 10 o'clock in Si. Andrew Street, and were taken into custody on a charge of fighting with each other at about 6 o'clock at the corner of St. Andrew and George Street-. j Street Brawl. The men were seen to dash aboard a Normaiiby tram at 0 o'clock at night at Kattray Street. The tram was already in motion when the two rushed out from the footpath, and. after a short run. boarded it. The older man was pulled aboard by a passenger, and the younger man (whose hand was handaged, and whose nose showed evidence of a fray) swung on behind him. They talked in loud voices, and their conver- | Ration was plainly audible to many of the passengers in the open portion of the tram. The older of the two was stating that he had served two years in prison, and from the conversation, it appeared that lie was denying having hit someone else with a beer bottle. The other man evidently considered from the tone of his brother that lie was insinuating something, and by mutual consent the two got off at St. AndrewStreet. "Have ago at mc," said the younger man, after taking a hasty drink at the j water fountain by the corner. ] The other went up to say something ito him, but was repulsed with a wild swipe tbat knocked his hat from his head. He returned to the fray, and tried to grab his opponent round the middle. Much wild punching followed. The crowd on the tram, which during this time was stopped at the corner, was greatly tickled at the sight. A loud guffaw went up from the male passengers as the car moved off. j The Men in Court. As the result of the affray with each other, tiie two men appeared in the Police Court one morning before Mr. H. W. Bundle, X.M.. charged with fighting in St. Andrew Street last night. Chief-detective Lewis said it was alleged that another man was struck and kicked, and he. had died in the hospital as a result of that. It was alleged that at least one of the Sutherlands was engaged in that affair. The man was taken to the hospital in an unconscious condition, and died as a result of the kick or injury lie received. The Magistrate (to accused): What do you do for a living? The older accused said he had just been released from Mount Eden Prison last Tuesday week. The other man said he was a horse driver. The Magistrate said he proposed to grant tho remand aoked for by the police. j Inquest Opened. ■ At the inquest on the victim, Mr. J. P. Bartholomew. S.M., sitting as coroner, j heard evidence of identification and ' medical testimony as to the cause of' death. Chief-detective Lewis represented j the police. ! Evidence was given by Thomas Joseph' O'Sullivan. a labourer, residing at. 13 Surrey Street, lie said that be knew deceased as Jack Hyan. He worked with him at Cliatto Creek and Cat!ins River. He had worked with him, on and off, for about fourteen years. As far as he knew, Byan was a single man. He understood that he was gointr to work at Tarras. Dr. Champtaloup, house surgeon, Dunedin Hospital, said that when the deceased was admitted he was in a state of extreme collapse, almost pulseless. He was taken to the casualty ward, and witness administered a stimulant and commenced a hurried examination, but the patient died before it was completed, i The examination revealed a contused wound about three inches behind the ear. There was no hemorrhage from tiie ears. nose, or mouth. There were some blood stains on his under-garments which could not bo accounted for hy the presence of any wound. To the Coroner: There was a certain amount of hemorrhage from the wound behind the ear. Constable Harvey said that he identified the body as that of John James Ryan. He had known tiie deceased for the last 12 years. He was a labourer. o3 years of age. and came from England. For rears past he had worked for tbe Public Works Department in the Beaumont. Catlins, and other districts. He did not know whether the deceased was married or not. At this stage the inquest was adjourned sine die.