TRAGIC SEQUEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 285, 1 December 1932, Page 20

TRAGIC SEQUEL.

BARBER BOUND OVER. DEATH AFTER CONVICTION. I THREAT TO BURN SHOP. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OTOROIIANGA, this day. Immediately after leaving the Magistrate's Court yesterday, having been bound over to keep the peace, Michael Howley, a hairdresser, collapsed. He was ordered by a doctor to the Waikato Hospital, and died there last night. Howley had been charged, on the information of George Kaynor, a jeweller, that ho had threatened to burn down liis premises and had used provoking and insulting language. Mr. F. W. Platts, S.M., was on the bench. Kaynor asked that Howley be bound over to keep the a peace. * Kaynor said in evidence that threats and acts of the defendant had been going on for the past twelve months \vith increasing intensity. He had exercised a considerable amount of forbearance, but had at last been compelled to complain to defendant, their landlord, the To Kuiti police and the Otorohanga police in turn, without result, and he Jiad been forced into this action. On the morning of November 19, matters hail reached their breaking point, when Howley threatened to burn down the premises. Evidence was given by Frederick Vincent Moss and Barney August Mattson as to the language used by Howley. For the defence, George Eassey, a member of the Otorohanga Town Board, said that in October a letter written by Howley came before the board, complaining of the behaviour of Kaynor. The board replied that it could not take any steps,, but as a member of the board lie interviewed Kaynor, and had been abused. Howley, who occupied' adjoining premises to Kaynor, denied making the threat or using the language. A medical report produced showed that Howley had been, in. the Waikato Hospital for illnesses. , , Walls Too Thin. His Worship said that had these people lieen neighbours in ordinarily decent dwellings the trouble would never have arisen, but they lived in a shop divided into smaller shops. The trouble arose, because there were such wretched partitions that any noise could be heard. As one -witness had said, a whisper could be heard in the next shop. Defendant was a very delicate man and noises- would appear to be extra loud to.him. How ever annoyed Howley might be about the late hours of Kaynor, he could not use the threat -which it had undoubtedly been proved he had used, nor was he justified in the use of insulting expressions, "I can only 6ay the defendant should be bound over to keep the peace," said the magistrate. "It would be better etill if one of the two would take another shop, for some day this man may be actuated to carry out his threats." Howley was bound over to keep the peace in one surety of £10 in his own recognisance, and ordered to pay costs, { £2 15/.