FATAL MISADVENTURE NEAR MELBOURNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9712, 7 January 1895, Page 5

FATAL MISADVENTURE NEAR MELBOURNE.

QUARREL BETWEEN BROTHERS. A man named Frank Mason, residing at Carlton, met his death under somewhat untoward circumstances on December 26. The deceased and his two brothers, Thomas and William Mason, resided together. It appears that Thomas and William Mason were standing on the footpath near their place of residence waiting for their brother Frank to return home. After some time they saw him come along accompanied by a woman. They allowed him to pass, when Thomas called oub and said, " You had better come home," adding that they were all waiting up for him. Frank turned round and replied, " All right, fat fellow, I am going home." Be then went down to the front of the Battle Axe Hotel, about 100 yards off, and stood there. Thomas followed and repeated his request, adding, " If you don'b come you won't get in to-night." This observation seemed to annoy the other, who, it now became evident, was intoxicated, and 'he seized his brother Thomas by the collar of his coat and held on to him for some time, pulling him about, and saying he would " smash " him. William Mason then went to the spot and told Frank ho had better let Thomas go. Frank refused, and said he would do what he liked. Thereupon William caught him by the throat and gave him a push, with the result that he turned half round and fell on the side of his face againsb the kerb. Shortly after, and before either of the brothers could go to his assistance, Frank got up, and going into the roadway he took off his hat and coab and threw them on the ground. Thomas again quietly expostulated with the drunken man, bub he refused to go home. He was again approaching Thomas in a menacing attitude, when William once more seized him by the throat and pushed him down. Nob apprehending anything serious, Thomas and William Mason left Frank lying on bhe road and went home, taking with them the hat and coat of the other. William went to bed, and about half an hour afterwards was awakened by Thomas, who told him that Frank was dead, having been picked up in that state on the road where they had left him, and carried to the Hospital. It would seem that as soon as the noise of quarrelling had ceased, a neighbour, Mr. Barrow, a pobatomerchanb, went oub to the assistance of the man lying on the ground, whom he found to be Frank Mason. The body was then lifeless. The body was removed from the hospital to the morgue, ■ and subsequently a post-mortem examination was held by Dr. Mollison. The result of the examination went to show that death was caused by extravasation of blood upon the brain. There were marks upon the throat, and a jagged wound near the chin. The latter had not in any way assisted to cause death. lb was apparent that when deceased fell the second time there was a rush of blood to his head, and nob being able to recover himself, and being ab th% time drunk, death resulted as stated. The brother gave himself up to the police, and an inquest was subsequently held, with the result that the brother was acquitted of blame.