CHARGE OF ROBBERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20841, 7 April 1931, Page 11

CHARGE OF ROBBERY.

DYING MAN'S DEPOSITIONS. DISPUTE IN MOTOR-CAR. [BY TEJ.EOn APH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] TIMARIT. Monday. Serious alio.gat inns were made by a dying man, Robert Galvin Nesbitt, a lorry driver, at a special silting of the Police Court at the Titnaru Public Hospital last evening, against Thomas James Cox and John Henry Fitzgerald, "who were jointly charged with having robbed Nesbitt o| £l7, and with having used per- I sonal vioh-me. When Nesbitt was admitted to the hospital, shortly after six o'clock on Saturday evening, he was in a very low condition. Ho was suffering from shock, severe hemorrhage, a compound fracture of tlm left thigh, and other injuries, which were alleged to have followed an assault, which was described to have taken place in a motor-car in broad daylight. After Nesbitt was admitted to hospital, his left leg was amputated at the thigh, and blood transfusion was performed yesterday in an attempt to save the injured man's life. This, however, was of no avail, and Nesbitt died at 4.30 o'clock this morning.

Nesbitt, in his depositions at the hospital, stated that ho met Fitzgerald and Cox in a hotel on Saturday afternoon. The three men had several drinks, and then Fitzgerald offered to drive Nesbitt home. He accepted the offer, and the car was driven to a street, off Craigie Avenue, where Fitzgerald produced a pack of cards and suggested a game. Nesbitt refused to play, and asked to be driven home. Nesbitt declared that Cox then drove to Coonoor Road, where Fitzgerald struck Nesbitt twice on the jaw. Nesbitt made a jump to escape, but 1< it/.gerald held him back. Ho managed to open a door of the car, however. He then apparently slipped, one of the car wheels passing over his body. Cox and Fitzgerald were charged in the Police Court this morning with robbery with violence, and wore remanded for ei£ht days. Bail was refused. Tt is stated that when Constable W. Devine arrived on the scene of the alleged assault Fitzgerald strenuously resisted arrest, and the constable had to call Dr. R, W. King and two other men to his assistance.