TO STAND TRIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 97, 27 April 1933, Page 20

TO STAND TRIAL.

DEATH AFTER FALL.

RELIEF WORKER CHARGED.

SEQUEL TO ARGUMENT.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday.

Arising from the death on April 18 of George Johan Christopher Bank, aged 51, while working on the Summit Road relief works, Clarence George Gibson, a shepherd, aged 44, also employed on the relief works, was charged in the Magistrate's Court to-day with manslaughter. . . Daniel TomUne said he was working on Summit Road on April 18, and about 1.20 p.m. he heard an argument in a "■ang he was passing. He thought it was only in fun. He walked closer and heard Gibson say that Bank was a loafer. Bank replied with a remark about Gibson. Gibson sa ! d he would have no one calling him by that name, and struck Bank, who fell over the edge of the road. Witness was not positive that Gibson's net actually struck Bank. Bank fell on his left side, continued witness, and'Gibson said, "Get up and I'll give you another one." Witness thought that the rock gave way, causing Bank to elide down on his face. It was evident that Bank was badly hurt, and an ambulance was sent for. In the meantime Gibson and others worked on Bank, trying to bring him round. Ernest William Robson, another workman on the job, said that after remarks between the men Bank pushed Gibson with his shoulder and Gibson struck Bank two blows with his fists on the chest. Bank fell. He got up immediately, but fell again, striking his chm on a rock. Detective McClurg produced a statement by the accused, who told of a previous conversation with Bank,". in which he (Gibson) remonstrated with Bank for loafing. Before the accident Bank, who was not working, said to Gibson, who was splitting rock, "That will take some of the fat off you." Gibson called him a loafer, and Bank came up to him, pushed him with his shoulder, and then stepped back with clenched nets. It was then that Bank fell off the road. Gibson denied that a blow was struck by either man.

Dr. Pearson, pathologist, who conducted a post-mortem examination, said there was an injury on Bank's chin and a bruise over the heart. Neither, he thought, was the cause of death. There was bleeding into the base of the skull unaccompanied by any evidence of injury or disease. There was also a tear in a muscle In the neck unaccompanied by any abrasion or bruising. This, he thought, was caused by a sudden jerk of the head not associated with the injury to the chin. Witness believed the bleeding into the brain was caused by the same jerking movement of the head, which had burst a vein in the base of the skull. The jerk might have been an involuntary movement when Bank missed his footing and fell.

Gibson was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being fixed at £50, with one surety of £50.