CHARGES DISMISSED

Southland Times, Issue 21855, 4 November 1932, Page 6

CHARGES DISMISSED

SEQUEL TO SALESMAN’S DEATH. AFFRAY IN HOTEL. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, November 3. The Magistrate, Mr Hunt, to-day dismissed all the charges brought by the police against Reginald Lessel Pearless, aged 47, a civil engineer. He was charged that with intent to do grievous harm he did actual bodily harm to Ralph Josling Arnold, a salesman, who died in the Auckland Hospital on October 18. The Magistrate in his verdict as Coroner said Arnold appeared to have brought it on himself. Lengthy evidence was given including that of the accused himself who said that on October 15 his wife went from Hamilton to Auckland to attend the Avondale races and when she did not return at the time expected and knowing she was addicted to drink, he went to Auckland himself. On arriving at her room in the hotel he found Arnold, whom he did not know, standing outside the door and was told Arnold had been in the room with his wife. She had had liquor and was hysterical. Arnold was still hanging about and he caught Arnold by the scruff of the neck and ran him along the corridor. When he let Arnold go Arnold shaped up to him and accused then struck him. Some bystanders said: “You haven’t given him half what he deserves.” He then hit him again. Some days later he saw in the newspapers that a man named Arnold had died m Auckland and he promptly communicated with the police. The Magistrate said the injury to Arnold’s head would not have, been serious had Arnold not been drinking for two days previously.