ALLEGATION OF MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20251, 10 May 1929, Page 12

ALLEGATION OF MURDER.

MAN'S DEATH FROM BLOW

PETTY OFFICER CHARGED.

STATEMENT BY ACCUSED.

LIQUOR TAKEN AT PARTY

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. A charge of murder was preferred today in the Magistrate's Court against Eric Matthews, aged 32, a petty officer of the cruiser Diomede, in connection with the death of John Stevens, who was found unconscious in a gutter in the Post Office Square, and who died later at the central police station. An inquest concerning the death of Stevens was held before the coroner, Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., prior to the hearing of the charge of murder. Chief-Detective Lopdell conducted the inquest on behalf of the police, and Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for Matthews. The first witness called was George William Orrne, of Elizabeth Street, who said ho was employed in the coffee stall in Post Office Square, where ho was at about 1 a.m. on May 8. There were present a taxicab driver and another civilian. Later another civilian, whom he now knew as Stevens, entered. Stevens showed signs of liquor, and started to talk about women in general, and his wife in particular. During this conversation four men in uniform from the Diomede arrived, and at first they took no notice of Stevens. The other civilian protested against this conversation, but witness did not hear the naval men take part in the protest. Bottle Used lor Blow. "I was having a conversation with one of the naval men at one end of the pie cart," continued witness, "when I heard a smack which sounded like the smack of a fist on the neck. I looked round and saw a bottle being replaced on the counter, and I said: "Surely they have not used that?" The man Stevens had his hand up to his neck and was going out of the stall backwards. It seemed to witness that Stevens w r as being dragged out backwards. Witness could not say who put the bottle on the counter. He saw Stevens quite half an hour later, when he heard a knock at the door of the cart and on opening it discovered Stevens, who had his hand up to his neck. In reply to witness he mumbled something about a car. Witness could also remember Stovens saying something like '"lf I die, someone will hear about it." Witness thought that drink had affected the deceased, and having customers ho went back into the piecart. The next time he saw Stevens he was in the custody of the police

To Mr. O'Leary witness said that at the time of the occurrence there were in the stall six naval men, two civilians and himself. The bottle which he saw put down was used as a sauce bottle in the stall. Mr. O'Leary: Now, Mr. Orme, whatever trougle rose, I take it, was caused by the conduct and conversation of the man who is now dead ?—Yes, sir. k OSensivo Talk About Women. Counsel: I think he was making filthy statements about women and he was not sparing his own wife. —Exactly. Counsel: And I think his sister came in for comment? —Well, I do not know whether it was his sister, but it was somebody's sister.

Counsel: And it was then that he got the smack ?—Yes.

Dr. P. Lynch, pathologist at the Wellington Hospital, said death was due to hernmorrhage and compression of the brain arising from a fracture of the bone of the temple. The fracture was caused by direct violence. A blow or a fall might cause such a fracture. To Mr. O'Leary: The part of the skull which was fractured was the thinnest portion of the skull. Frank Edgar Walker, petty officer on the Diomede, said he was oil leave with Petty Officer Matthews. They had been at a party together, and had had drinks. When returning to the boat the party went into the pie cart and when witness entered two civilians were engaged in a heated argument. The conversation was about women, and was not fit for any decent man to listen to. One man threatened to "clean the other man up." The man who made the threat was afterwards injured. Witness heard a scuffle and went outside, where ho caught hold of his friend Matthews, who was very excited. Witness had not seen the scuffle, but saw the injured man running down the road afterwards. Witness did not know what had made Matthews excited. Statement Regarding Blow.

Detective W. Kane said that in company with Detective-Sergeant Holmes he interviewed Matthews on board tho Diomede yesterday. Matthews said he had heard that the police were making inquiries, and that lie would make a statement. Tho portion of the statement which was applicable to the proceedings at the inquest was then read by tho detective.

" I remember," said Matthews in the statement," the civilian being in the coffee stall. lie was making very offensive remarks about women, in particular about his own wife and sister, at which I becamo very annoyed, and hit him. I cannot recollect what I hit him with. From that time until I went 011 board the ship .1 do not know what took place, and this I consider was due to the amount of liquor I had taken." * This concluded the evidence at the inquest, and the coroner returned a verdict in accordance with tho medical testimony, stating that the fracture of the skull was inflicted on the deceased by a blow with a bottle by Eric Matthews. 1 As the Diomede sailed this afternoon the preliminary hearing of the murder charge was then gone on with, before Mr. E. Pago, S.M. Tlio witnesses from the Diomede formally swore to the evidence they had given at the inquest, and Chief Detective Lopdell then applied for a remand until Wednesday next. Mr. O'Leary called Lieutenant Deeper, of tho Diomede, who said that should the accused bo committed for trial the commander wished him to remain under the naval authorities until tho time came for him. to Appear at tho Supremo Court. Witness said that tho officers and men in the ship were all concerned about the trouble in whi.ch accused found himself. The accused was remanded in custody until next Wednesday.