MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Grey River Argus, 20 October 1936, Page 6

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Palmerston South Case (Per Press Association). DUNEDIN, October 19. The trial of Richard Corrigan, on a-charge of mansalughter, arising out of the death of George Stuart Neish, at. Palmerston, on August 26, was commenced in the Supreme Court, to-day, Mr Justice Kennedy being on the bench. An alternative charge, of assaulting Neish, with intent to cause actual bodily harm, was preferred against Corrigan. The Crown alleged he inflicted fatal injuries by kicking Neish on the head. The accused was represented by Mr J. G. Warrington. Mr F. B. Adams conducted the case for the Crown. Evidence was given by Dr. P. F. Howden, of Palmerston, who examined the body in the early morning, and formed the opinion that death had occurred before midnight, and by Dr. E. F. Dath, Professor of Pathology at the University of Otago, who conducted a post mortem examination. Dr. Dath was almost certain in saying that the deceased was intoxicated when he died. Death, in his opinion, was caused by an injury to the top of the head and the blow must have been severe. The injury was consistent with a. kick by a person wearing a boot which was exhibited in Court, and he expressed the opinion that marks on the deceased’s head coincided with nails on the boot. Death from such an injury would not be immediate, and might even follow some hours later.

Mr AVanington asked Dr. Dath whether it was possible that the injuries wore caused by a boot other than Corrigan’s. The witness replied that it was unlikely that in another boot the disposition of nails would be the same. The position of the wound was such that he could not imagine any circumstances under which it could have been caused bv a fall.

Evidence was also given by Alexander Erhlom, a fisherman of Moeraki who described a visit by witness and deceased to Corrigan’s, where drinking took place. Deceased and Corrigan went outside, and Corrigan returned 10 minutes later. Corrigan said: “I made a good job to put him out for a while,” or something like that, When witness opened the door Corrigan walked in front of him. Corrigan went to the car, and witness saw Neish lying under a fence. Witness, thinking Neish had gone out very suddenly, said: “It is not good to leave the old man under the fence all night.” He suggested that Neish should be put in the car and taken to his own place. They then put him in the car, but, witness, who had Neish by the legs, noticed no injury. Getting out of the car, witness, who had had more drink then he should have had, fell down the bank, and when he got up, the car was gone. Neish was lying with his feet downwards on the bank. Thinking that he was drunk, and might recover, witness left him there. Witness did not examine Neish, because he had seen him like that before. Later, witness pulled Neish’s coat over his head, and started to drag him inside, but ho left him at the door. Witness went inside, and he must have fallen asleep. When he awoke, he called, but he received no reply. He lighted a candle and saw some blood. He got a shock, and ran to the railway station and asked the porter to come. Later the local constable arrived.

The hearing was then adjourned till to-morrow morning. DUNEDIN SESSIONS. DUNEDIN. October 19. The I’ghtest criminal ea.'endar in seven years was presented at the quarterly session,, opening before Justice Kennedy this morning, the Judge congratulating the district. There were three prisoners for sentence, and one ease for trial, this being the alternative charges of manslaughter and assault causing bodily harm, against Richard Corrigan. in respect of the death, at Palmerston, on August 27,. of George Stewart Neish. He pleaded not gui/ty. The Crown’s allegation was that Nrrsh was k'iced on the head with a hobnail boot after a drunken quarrel. The Crown is leading evidence on the line of the Lower Court evidence.

NAVAL STOKER GAOLED. RESULTS OF “NIGHT OUT.” AUCKLAND, October 19For the offence of striking a superior officer and disobeying orders, Stoker Stephen Qu'inn, H.M S. Wellington who hnd been five years in the Imperial branch of the Naval Service, was sentenced this morning by a Naval Court to siX moinths’ imprisonment and dismissed from H.M. Service. Quinn pleaded gu'ilty to both counts. The court-martial 1 was held aboard the Achilles, 'Captain Glennie, Commander of the Achilles; pres’ding. The ease as set out by the prosccn-

tor, Commander Hall, iwas that on -October S Quinn returned at 7.15 a.m. from aJI-night leave. At 7.3 Q, he was ordered to the boiler room, and there ■ was order by a petty officer to clean ; the b'<.li t r. but refused. The petty ■ officer reported the matter to the chief i stoker;, who again ordered Quinn to j perform the duty. Quinn refused and I argued with the chief stoker. He ! aimed several blows at him, and ‘one .■■truck him on the jaw. Quinn, in extenuation, pleaded that ho had been drinking heavily the previous night, and was suffering from after effects. He expressed regret, and kiid he had nr, personal >.nimosity against either officer. The Court ordered the sentence to be served in Auckland gaol. PAKAPOO INVESTORS. AND A SWINDLER. PALMERSTON N, October 17. Ah Wong, aged 23, a Ch. nose with several a/lases, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on each of two charges of false pretences, the terms to be cuinultitivO). The offences were committed at Auckland. The police said that the aeeused went to two shops at Khyber Pass and obtained from Sarah Ebzabeth Kav £2 10s, false’y representing that she had won £2O in a pakapoo lottery. He also obtained £4 ]Os from Jean Foster under the same efireumstanees saying in this case that she had won £.lO. lie had sold the women tickets carrier. Later he called and claimed the commission, saying that they had won. TIPSY MOTORIST. EXPOSED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST CHRISTCHURCH, October 18. Because he saw the driver .in front of him siteer’ing an erratic course ns though intoxicated, a motorist on Wilson’s road on October 16 drove to the front, and forced the other to stop. He then disconnected the ignition of the other ear and enJled the police. In the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, John Leighton Woodfield, a market gardener, pleaded guilty, through Mr D. W. Russell, to being in charge of a ear while Jin a state of intoxication. He iwas fined £25 and was prohibited from obtaining a. license, until October 1, 1937. A CHINESE CHARGED. GISBORNE, October 19. Tn the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr Walton, S.M., a young Chinese market gardener, named Ah Tai, also known os Ching Boon, was committed to the Supreme Court for trail on a charge of indecently assaulting a girl ten years of age.