STRUCK ON HEAD

Southland Times, Issue 20770, 10 May 1929, Page 7

STRUCK ON HEAD

INJURIES.PROVE FATAL SHIP’S OFFICER UNDER ARREST CHARGE OF MURDER (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, May 9. An inquest concerning the death of John Stevens, who died at the Police Station ! yesterday, opened to-day before Mr Barj ton, S.M. Eric Matthews, a petty officer on | the Diomede was present under arrest on a i charge of murdering Stevens. Chief De- : tective Lopdell appeared for the police, while Mr O’Leary' represented Matthews. George Orme, employed in a pie stall, gave evidence that a number of men were in the stall, including deceased, and six naval men. Deceased was talking about women in general and his wife in particular in disparaging terms. A protest was made at Stevens’ remarks. Subsequently he heard a smack and saw a sauce bottle being replaced on the counter. Stevens left the cart and returned later and mumbled: “If I die some one will hear about it.” Whatever trouble arose was caused by the conduct and conversation of deceased. / Doctor Lynch, who made a past-mortem, said that death was due to extradual haemorrhage and compression of the brain arising from a fracture of the temple bone. The particular part of the skull struck was the thinnest portion. Frank Edgar Walker, a petty officer on the Diomede, said deceased and another were having a heated argument when deceased threatened to clean up the other man. The conversation was not fit to listen to. There was a scuffle and witness went outside and caught hold of Matthews, who was very excited. The injured man w’as running down the road. Evidence was given by the police of finding the deceased in the street and his subsequent death at the station. Detective Vean, who interviewed Matthews, said Matthews made a statement to the effect that he was annoyed at the remarks made by Stevens about his wife and sister and hit him. He could not recollect when he hit him or what he hit him with. The Coroner returned a verdict ; n accordance with the medical testimony, stating that a fracture of the skull was inflicted on deceased by a blow with a bottle from Matthews. The preliminary' hearing of the murder charge was then taken before Mr Page, S.M., and the evidence given at the inquest was sworn to by witnesses. Accused was remanded to Wednesday next..