"FRAMED-UP" SUICIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 151, 28 June 1928, Page 10

"FRAMED-UP" SUICIDE.

BLOOD STREWN ON WHARF.

•WATERFRONT " AMENITIES. PATROLMEN FALL OUT. SEQUEL AT THE COURT. That he was assaulted on February 28, whereby he received serious injury to the left thigh was the allegation made by Frederick John Baker, lately patrolman with the Auckland Harbour Board, when he proceeded against Richard Ryan, of 10, Bright Street, Eden Terrace, labourer, also formerly with the Auckland Harbour Board as chief patrolman, for the sum of £43 9/6 as damages. The sum was made up as follows:—General damages, £25; special damages, loss of three weeks wages at £5 10/ per week, £16 10/; Dr. Thomas' fees, £1 7/0; chemist's account, 12/. The case was commenced at the Magistrate's Court this morning before Mr. W. R. McKean. Mr. Alan Moody appeared for plaintiff and Mr. J. J. Sullivan for defendant. From the statement made by Mr. Moody it appeared that the principal parties in the case were patrolmen in the employ of the Auckland Harbour Board and ranked as special constables. Baker suffered severe injuries in the war, and is in receipt of a permanent pension. On the day of the assault Ryan came up some steps and called out. " Have you got my sugar bag? " He then, appeared to lose his head, -and rushed Baker against a table, from which he sustained severe contusion of the left thigh and ruptured muscles. Ryan was chief patrolman, but made no complaint to the traffic manager, who later held an inquiry into the occurrence and sus|>ended both. They- were subsequently dismissed. Ryan was apparently sutfering from a fancied grievance. Allegations of Assault. In giving evidence, plaintiff paid he went into the patrol office in shed 11 on February 28, and Ryan asked for his sugar bag and then rushed him. Ryan called him a Hun, and witness said: " I called him a dirty Irishman." Continuing, witness said: "I went down the steps, an 3 called out to Ryan. ' You can have anything you like any time you want it.' I told him to come down, and he called out that I had stolen his sugar bag and cut up his boots. He called me a Dutchman. As my leg was sore and swelling I went to the ambulance station and got the officer to have a look at it, and he advised me to go home. The next day we were called up before Mr. Golden, and Ryan made charges against me of cutting up fishing lines and jumping on mussels. Under cross-examination witness said he had nothing to do with a framed-up euicide on the wharf, neither did he buy from a butcher the blood which was then strewn upon the wharf. He certainly laughed with the others over, the ineident. He denied that he had called Ryan "Golden's Pimp." He said he was in the ]K>lke force for three years, and after the trouble over the formation of a police association" was transferred from the Auckland district. Mr. Sullivan: Is it true a collection was taken up to-pay-your expenses for this collection was taken .up as a testimonial to me. Mr. Moody: And the Customs officers subscribed to the fund. Witness denied that lie had tried to get Ryan put out of his job. A Stubborn Witness. John Hodges said he was on the wharf that night, and he heard. Ryan call Baker a— — big cur,, and Baker say lie would , give him a chance to prove his words. In the opinion of witnase Baker was not quarrelsome. He was a quiet sort of man. Mt. Sullivan: Did you subscribe to this fund ?—That has nothing to do with this case. Did you subscribe to this fund ? I refuse to answer. Mr. Sullivan: You are not the judge of this case. Mr- McKean: Please say yes or no. Witness: I subscribed to a testimonial. Mr. Sullivan: How much?—l refuse to answer, and you can't make me. Mr. McKean: lie lias told you. Mr. Sullivan, that he subscribed to a fund. Mr. Sullivan: You are on bad terms with Ryan?—Xot exactly. Then you love him ? Mr. Moody: 1 don't think anyone could love him. In opening the case for tire defendant Mr. Sullivan said he had a very lon« police record and it was unblemished He was in the police force for 15 years ami was honourably discharged. Ryan was a quiet man in spite of what witnesses for plaintiff had said. He had been in the employ of the Auckland Harbour Board for seven years and a hall. Ryan contended that plaintiff called him names and spat on him, and he denied that Instruck Baker. Mr. Moody: Then you say there was no assault at all. Defendant's Denial. Richard Ryan, in evidence said — 1 arrived at shed 11 at 10.30 o'clock on the evening of February 2H, and wlu-u I went into the recess at the top of the steps I asked Baker if ] , ] ia d ni v ba-_ the bag I stand on when dressing j< o reply. Baker passed into the room and returned to go off duty. 1 asked him again if he had seen my bag. He n.ad* no reply. 1 did not go into the i.atro! ofhee at any time. U e turned towards .m*-. waved a hand, and at the same tinu-i spat at i seiml hold (f h . e , Which he jerked away. 1 did not assault him. He went down about four or live steps and said "You are an IrishI said 'Yon are a Hun.' J did not use anv bad language. He went down to the wharf A loud voice below attracted me to the window, and I saw Baker an,] Hodges. Baker a»ain called me an Irish —, and asked me to go down and fight. I d,d not go down. The inquiry held by Mr. Golden took place the fol lowing day." Witness said he hud been reported previously but only for a breach K;r Hehad notbcen friS * Under cross-examination witne=« arl mated he had been in trouble \vith Mr Moody: Any others? Cork and Palmer and Hannigan?— Yes. Asked how Baker met with his in juries witness said he might have been down steps or falling off h is Mr. bloody: Did you feel that Baker had anything to do with this suicide ioko aiii:^r over^^iie —<w

' Trot-ceding.)