FRACAS IN NAPIER

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 21, 26 January 1925, Page 7

FRACAS IN NAPIER

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

CASE OF: ALLEGED KIDNAPPING,

<BX CBLIORiPn.—PBI9S ASEOCTiTION.)

NAPIER, This Day.

A sensational fracas on the: Marine parade at Napier at 8 o'clock last evening resulted in the death of ..William Chaises Clark, timber merchant, aged 57, and in the subsequent arrest of John and Maurice Breen on a rtiarge of manslaughter.

The charge is based on the part played by the latter pair, .who are aged 32 and 42 respectively, in -"an- alleged-attempt at abduction, wherein the central figure was Breen's 14-year-old nephew, Frank Wilson, who until recently was living on their farm: Last Thursday liis mother; accompanied* Uy Clark," aiid others,' took the boy away, and on Saturday went to VVairoa and Morere by car, returning last night, when they were met as soon hs the car stopped at Mrs. Wilson's gate by the Breen brothers, the alleged attempt at kidnapping following. Ciark;' who was a boarder at Mrs. Wilson's, was the owner of the car, and apparently he attempted.to; prevent, the abduction.. .He struggled \vith first, Maurice ■tnd then John Breen, later -stagger-in"-into the house, where he collapsed and died almost immediately. The cause of deuth has.not'been definitely stated' bat the body was marked with abrasions ana there was a cut on the head. The Breens, n.e»nwhile, had drivsn away with the boy Wilson. They were arrested in ..Hastings, at midnight