BREAKFAST FIGHT

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1939, Page 4

BREAKFAST FIGHT

LED TO HOMICIDE. LONDON, December 1 Edward Goodall, an illiterate man thought to be about 79. who was described by one witness as a man who would not hurt a worm, was found not guilty at Surrey Assizes, at Kingston, of murdering Frederick Salter by shooting him on a rubbish dump at Shalford.

He was, however, found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to Mx mouths’ imprisonment. Il was staled that some years ago Sailer started a business of picking over the refuse deposited on the dump al Shalford. He. employed Goodall to look after him, and they lived practically on the refuse dump in a caravan, using a, corrugated iron shed nearby for cooking and eating. On tlie morning of October 25, Sailer’s body- was found in the shed. He had been shot, and there were no signs of a struggle.

Goodall said that on October 25 he got up at 5..15 a.m.. and went to look for rabbits and, on returning, stood his gun, in which were two cartridges, outside the shed, leaving the right barrel cocked.

He then prepared breakfast and put it on the table when Salter came in. Salter said that it was "done up” 100 much for him, and he told Salter that he had better get somebody else to do his breakfast for him.

“Then he takes hold of my shoulders and throws me down on the floor,” said Goodall. “He said, ‘I will break your neck for you.’ I got on my hands and knees and got to the door. He was in a nasty rage and came towards me, and I picked up the gun and shot at him. I took no aim. I did not know whether I hit him or not.” Goodall said he thought that perhaps Salter would have “done me in or done me harm.” Asked why he did not run away, he said that he could not run more than a few yards.