ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12725, 30 November 1904, Page 6

ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER.

MEB ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR ,-:,•;••';'- -■''- ' TRIAL. Awls ; fether evidence had been taken be■for** alt. C. 0. Kettle, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday, in the case of Victor Oliver, charged with manslaughter, in connection with tins death of Alfred Mace, Mr. Hackett, ? on-behalf of the accused, submitted that a prima fade case had not been - made out; He said; thatj the evidence demonstrated that Oliver bad only protected himself against grievowa bodily harm at the hands of the deceased in the Waitemata billiard-room, on Novettiier 9. The Magistrate, in reply, said chat the eyidenaf, went to show,that Mace did cot attack ?'the: accused, bat f rather interfered < to protect his friend, the billiard-marker, Heweon. uThf.: affair mi « hi have;ended after the" nrst souffle with Maoe,, 1 had no* Oliver again approached him in an aggressive * attitude, lorranK the deewsaed to defend himself. The evidence was that Mac® waa swung around violently by • Oliver, time bringing about a rau.. *i la - bat fall the deceased struck his head against the floor, death ■ following in consequence. The accused committed anTunlawful act in going round the billiard table and forcmg Maoe to fight, and he thought that a jury, would 5? justified « finding on the evidonee that Mace's death was caused by the aooused assaulting him in the manner he did Ahough a: man ,was: found guilty of manslaughter, it did not ; necessarily mean that a long sentence of imprisonment would be imposed. : A prima facie. case had been made out, and the accused would therefore be committed for trial. ' Bail, on Mr.. Haokett's application, was fixed at two mire * of £seacb or one of jJIWf . ..' ■■:■■. :; The Wailemata billiard-room, it may be mentioned, is not connected with the Waitemata Hotel, although it is situated aloneside, and the Waitemata Hotel accommodSKm.lST* a - re °- ver ! fc - The Waitemata billiard-roomw privately-let to Mr. Joseph