CADETS' FATAL FIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16234, 20 May 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

CADETS' FATAL FIGHT.

AN AFFAIR OF HONOUR.,

"IMPROPER" PRACTICE. Ax inquest on Donald Addenbrooke, aged 18, a special-entry naval cadet at Keybam Naval College, son of Lieut.»CoL Addeubrooke, of Edinburgh, was held at the Royal Naval . Hospital by the coroner (Mr. R. Robinson Rodd). "

Dr. Henry Erskine South, fleet surgeon, senior medical officer H.M. Dockyard, said he was called after five o'clock to the Royal Naval College- He saw deceased, who was lying' down, and was roused with difficulty. His lips were swollen and there was slight bleeding in the mouth. He had him removed to the Royal Naval Hospital.

Cadet Richard Lawrence Bere Shannon said on Sunday, March 12, he, Cadet McGregor, and deceased were coming home from Plymouth on the top of a tram. Cadet Mitchell and a lady joined the tram at the Palace Theatre. Mitchell went down the stairs to get a ticket and deceased took Mitchell's place beside the lady. When Mitchell came back he said, " Excuse me, Addenbrooke," and because Addenbrooke did not leave at once Mitchell was annoyed. When they got off the tram in Fore Street, Mitchell, as be passed, said, " That was a dirty trick, Addenbrooke." About half-past nine o'clock Addenbrooke asked witness if he would act as his second in a fight between Mitchell and himself. He consented, and Addenbrooke sent witness to Mitchell to ask if ho would fight. Mitchell hesitated at first and agresd to return his answer in five minutes. Witness did not go back to bim, and he had nothing further to do/with it.

Figbt in the Billiard-room. Cadet Maurice Appleton said on Monday afternoon he was in the billiard-room of the College. Deceased and Mitchell ■were there, and they started arguing about * the tram car incident. Witness heard deceased give Mitchell the choice of either "getting six" with a billiardcue or fighting. After a little more arguing they both stripped for a fight. Deceased stripped bare to his waist, Mitchell removed his coat and, witness thought, his waistcoat, and they then started to fight with their fists in a rough-and-tumble way. Deceased began to show signs of punishment; his lip and nose were bleeding. Mitchell's nose was also bleeding slightly. Cadet-Captain Taylor then interfered and stopped the tight, and suggested that if there must be more fighting it should" be carried on with gloves. Mitchell offered to shake hands and make it up, but Addenbrooke refused, saying he had had no satisfaction. Accordingly it was arranged to continue the fight with boxing-gloves in the machine-shop. When they went out witness stayed in the billiard-room.

The Fight Described. Nathaniel George Williams, C.P.0., physical training instructor at.the college, said : I was on duty in the machine-shop on Monday, March 13, about 4.20. When I arrived I saw preparations had been made for a ring on the concrete. 1 ordered this to be removed on to the floor. I wanted to know who was going to box. Addenbrooke came forward, stripped to the waist, and I was told Mitchell was the other. Mitchell had a light vest on. I sent up for* the gloves, and they put them on. I found out that previous to this referee, timekeepers, and seconds had all been arranged. I decided to take referee myself. There was no specified number of rounds. They fought cine, and had commenced the tenth, and after a little sparring they seemed to attack at the same time. Addenbrooke missed over Mitchell's shoulder. Mitchell came in with his right and caught him on the jaw. Addenbrooke reeled, seemed stupefied, sank down on his knees, and afterwards sat down with a great sigh. He made an , effort as if he wanted to resume the fight. I counted two, and he attempted to rise, and had got his hands off the ground. I rushed into the ring and caught him just as he was falling again. I put him on the chair, and en deavoured to restore him, and had him wrapped in his big coat and taken to bis cabin.

The Coroner: Was it a clean fight'—les.

Were they well matched Yes. Who, if either, had the best of it?— Addenbrooke.

The Cause of Death. Surgeon-General Thorpe, of the Royal Naval Hospital, said deceased was admitted to the hospital on March 13 He was in a very dropsy condition, but he could be roused to answer questions. A post-mortem examination showed that the veins of the brain were dilated, enlarged, and congested, and one of the veins on the upper surface of the brain had burst. The skull was exceptionally thin but there was no fracture of the skull or laceration of the brain. There was no sign of any injury or violence to the brain. Hemorrhage of the vein was file sole cause of death. There was nothing *<> show what caused the rupture At the conclusion of the evidence the coroner said this was a sad case—all the ladder because the father of the deceased had only recently returned from the front. The evidence, he thought, revealed a very senons state of affairs. If the jury were, satisfied the, blow caused the lads death they could return a verdict of Manslaughter" against Mitchell. As regarded Taylor, he told them he authorised and counselled the fight to be continued m the machine-shop, and if that was '° Taylor was accessory before the

The Verdict. The coroner said the jurv had given this matter very serious consideration and, having regard to the evidence of Ur. turner they had come to the conclusion that deceased died from hemorrhage of the brain, and they were satisfied that there was no evidence to show what Sffi ♦EVrt Rupture. The coroner added that they felt a serious and astounding set of facts had been revealed and if this practice of settling disputes prevailed in naval and military 6 establish! ments he could . only express the verv strongest hopes that regulations would be issued to prevent ,t, because it w as absolutely illegal and improper.