MURDER CHARGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1926, Page 8

MURDER CHARGE

ALLEGED FATAL BLOW.

(Per Press Association.)

GISBORNE, Dec. 29.

Arising out of the death of Robert Thelwall, who was found unconscious on the pavejnent outside the Record Reign Hotel last evening, and who subsequently died, Garnet Wolseley McMinn, freezing works employee nas been arrested on a charge of murder. It was alleged that deceased was struck by McMinn.

LATER.

McMinn’s arrest followed on a statement made this morning to Detective McLeod.

McMinn is a freezing works employee at Kaiteratahi. Thelwall was also employed in the same trade. An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death was opened oefore the 'Coroner, Mr Levy, S.M., at Cook Hospital this morning, formal evidence of identification being given. The inquest was then adjourned sine die, and a post mortem examination in the meantime will be made.

William Guild Thelwall, brother of the deceased, said that deceased was single, 38 years of age, and was a freezing works butcher. He was recently employed at the quarry at Patutaha. His health had always been good. He last saw his brother alive yesterday afternoon, at which time he was His brother had occasionally had liquor, and having it was not quarrelsome, in fact, if anything;’ was rather the other way. He had never actually seen his brother drunk. Later in the morning, Garnet Wolseley McMinn appeared at the police station to answer a charge of having murdered Robert Cecil Thelwall. Detective McLeod asked for a remand until Thursday, January 6, in order to carry out further investigations.

Accused asked for bail. No objection was made by Inspector Eccles, who, however, asked that, in view of the seriousness of the offence, it should be substantial. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £250, or one of £5OO, the remand being granted. , ..s&W