One Blow-Then Death Murder Charge Follows Quarrel Between Friends

NZ Truth, Issue 1103, 20 January 1927, Page 5

One Blow -Then Death Murder Charge Follows Quarrel Between Friends

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Man With An Abnormally Thin Skull

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Gisborne Representative.) JN dramatic, sentences did Garnet Wolseley McMinn explain the incidents leading up to the death of his friend, Robert Cecil Thelwall, as the result of whose! death McMinn is now awaiting, trial on a charge of murder.

"THELWALL called me over to X him," he said; "and when I got to, him, he gave me a smack on the mouth - with his open ,hand~ and said: 'How do you like that?'-. . ' "I then -said: 'what ls> the matter with you, Jerry?', but h¥ made no reply and kept on hitting me. . "I kept trying to avoid him; aB I had no reason to fight hini and could hot understand what was the matter, as we had always been good friends. 7 "I backed away: from him and he Btill followed me, hitting at me. I had to defend myself/and I struck at him and hit him on the jaw, and he fell backwards on to the footpath." That fall to the pavement had - tragio consequences. Thelwall received Immediate medical attention. When the doctor arrived on the scene the alleged murderer was dtting with Thelwall's head resting on his knees endeavoring to make him comfortable. Thelwall was'rushed to the hospital, but before an Operation could be performed he was dead.. McMinn, as soon>as he heard of his friend's death,, went , to the police station and yoluntarily made the statement which resulted m his arrest. Thelwall's Story v The whole tragic story was unfolded ln the Gisborne CJburt last week. when Magistrate Levvey, . sitting m a dual capacity, presided at an inquest into the circumstances of Thelwall's death, and, at the same time, heard the charge of murder against McMinn. Both the dead man and the accused were butchers by occupation, and are well-known m the Poverty Bay district.^ "';"..'•.-...' •■ The evidence showed that both had been drinking on the afternoon of the fatality, but neither, It ' was said, was\actualfy drunk. According to Daniel Murphy, licensee of the Record Reign Hotel; and a former member of the police force, Thelwall had been drinking at the hotel during the afternoon, but was quite Bober when he went outside shortly before six "'■ o'clock;.! - The first he knew- of any trouble was when a man came m ;to ring up for a doctor, and he then found that Thelwall had been injured. On going into the passage he found McMinn sitting on the floor with Thelwall's head resting on* his

knees. After the doctor's arrival ; Thelwall was sent to hospital. Murphy, said he had known both men for some time, and both were of a quiet natures McMinn had some drinks, apparently, -but was no more drunk than Thelwall. Three witnesses, John Roderick and Stanley Walter Rofe, both butchers, and Alflert Harvey, a hairdresser, gave evidence which supported McMinn's statement. . To Lawyer Stan. Beaufoy, who represented McMinn, it was admitted that the accused bore traces of blows oh the face. 7. This (Statement was supported m parts by the other two witnesses. The medical evidence was to the effect that Thelwall died from a fractured skull before an operation could be performed. Dr. Keith Bridge stated that the . ! deceased's skull was, only 3-Bths of '■.'■ an inch thick m the thickest part, this being, abnormally thin. Detective McLeod gave evidence that McMinn called to make a . statement between 6 and 7 o'clock on the morning following^ the occurrence. In his statement McMinn said he had been drinking m the Masonic Hotel apd was walking up the road when Thelwall called him over. , His reception was to be struck heavily on the face, with the inquiry: "How do you like that?" The statement proceeded to outline the details of the attack, and explained how— after the fall— Thelwall was hurried into the hotel and a doctor summoned. - "I cannot say if Thelwall was drunk," McMinn continued, "but I do not, think he would have attacked me as he did if he had been"; sober, as he and I have always been such good friends. "Although I knocked him down it was only to protect myself. On hearing that Thelwall had died I at once earnest© the police station to make this 'statement." / ...'_• In applying for a reduction of the amount of bail, Lawyer Beaufoy said the' case was solely one of misfortune. "I ask your worship to consider what possibility there is of an ultimate conviction," he "added. The reduction was agreed to, bail being fixed with a surety of £200,- or two of £100 each. The coroner's verdict was m accqrdI ance with the medical testimony.