CASHEL STREET AFFRAY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 760, 18 July 1916, Page 3

CASHEL STREET AFFRAY.

INQUEST ON VICTIM. DEATH FROM FRACTURED SKULL BLOW STRUCK BY MICHAEL CAREY. The death of Frederick William Allan, the victim of the fatal affray in Cashel Street, was the subject of an inquest held at the Christchurch Hospital yesterday afternoon by the coroner, Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M. Sub-Inspector Mullaney conducted the enquiry for the police, while Mr J. A. Cassidy watched the proceedings on behalf of Michael Carey,- a soldier in the Kith Reinforcements, who that morning had been remanded until Friday next on a charge of the murder of Allan. Carey, who was present in custody, did not give evidence. The first witness, John Allan, a labourer residing at 121 Madras Street, gave formal evidence of identification of deceased, who was his brother. Deceased was a single man, 44 years of age, and resided with witness. He last saw his brother alive about 3 p.m. on Saturday, when he appeared to be in his usual good health. THE MEDICAL EVIDENCE.

Francis Lidderdale Scott, superintendent of the Christchurch Hospital, said he saw deceased about half-an-hour after his admission to the hospital. Deceased was admitted at 6.15 p.m. on Saturday, July 15. Allan was quite unconscious and bleeding from the right ear. There was a bruise under the right side of the jaw. Deceased died at 12.50 a.m. on July 16, without regaining consciousness. To Mr Cassidy: Witness did not notice any marks at the back of the head.

Arthur Bushby Pearson, a pathologist at the Christchurch Hospital, said that, assisted by Dr Westenra, he made a postmortem examination of the body of Allan that morning. Witness found fractures at the base of the skull on the right side. There was a second fracture, also on the right side. There was blood in the tissues under the right jaw, and in the tissues of the scalp covering the right temple bone. There were masses of blood under the membranes of the brain, and also blood in the brain. The brain was healthy. The other organs of the body were healthy, with the exception of signs of early interstitial inflammation of the kidneys. The cause of death was coma due to haemorrhage, following on fracture of the scalp. To Sub-Inspector Mullaney: The injuries to the back of the head were consistent with falling against a hard substance, such as asphalt. The mark under the jaw might have been caused by a blow from a man's list. There was also a small mark under the eyelid.

In reply to Mr Cassidy, witness said Ihe immediate cause of death was the injuries to the back of the skull.

Dr F. G. Westenra, who assisted in the post mortem, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. THE INCIDENT DESCRIBED.

Constable Edwin W. Straffon said that on Saturday evening last, about 5.30 p.m., while in plain clothes, he was walking along Cashel Street. Opposite the D.I.C. he saw Michael Carey arguing with Frederick W. Allan. While passing he heard Michael Carey state, "You dirty — —, I'll hit you on the jaw." Witness walked past about 20 paces, and on looking back, heard Carey say, "You are a shirker, you should be at the front." Witness did not hear Allan's reply. Allan walked away, but was followed by Carey, who struck deceased (Allan) three times with his closed fist. Witness was about to interfere and arrest Carey for assault, but before he could seize Carey, that person, who was in uniform, struck Allan another blow with his left fist on the jaw, knocking him down. The back of Allan's skull struck the asphalt heavily, and Allan became unconscious. Witness at once sent for the ambulance and a constable. The injured man was taken to the hospital by Constable Stackholme, while witness arrested Carey and conveyed him to the Police Station.

Mr Cassidy intimated he did not propose to question witness at this stage.

Christopher Wilson Brownlie, a clerk residing at Lyttelton, said that about 5.30 p.m. on Saturday he was in Cashel Street. He was on the left hand side of High Street, proceeding towards Manchester Street, when he noticed a number of men outside the doorway of Hallenstein's buildings. He saw a soldier strike a man three times. As the third blow was struck, another man in plain clothes walked towards the soldier. The soldier then gave deceased another blow under the jaw, and deceased fell heavily to the ground, on his back. Witness immediately informed a constable of the occurrence. A tramway man then proceeded with witness to the spot. The body in the morgue was that of the man knocked down by the soldier, Michael Carey. To the Coroner: Allan made no defence, and did not oiler to light. Questioned by Mr Cassidy, witness said he saw the occurrence from in front of Wallace's shop, in High St reel. The affair only lasted a few seconds. There were about three or four men standing by the parties. Witness did not know any of these people. It was raining at the time—a drizzle. Mr Cassidy: Who saw you about giving evidence? Was il Constable St raff on? Witness: No, Detective Quartermain at Lyttelton. Arthur Bull, a tram conductor, said that on Saturday evening, at 5.30 i o'clock, he was in the vicinity of! Cashel Street, and witnessed the oc-

currence. He was with a friend, who drew witness's attention to a man in uniform striking another man. Witness saw two blows and then a final blow. The final blow resulted in deeeased falling back. When the last blow was struck, witness was seven or eight paces away, and walking towards the parties. He had a clear view of the last blow. He assisted to pick up Allan, who was unconscious. To Mr Cassidy: He had turned into Cashel Street from Colombo Street. He could not tell what conversation had taken place, and could not remember whether Dennis's Shop, or the Cafe de Paris Hotel, were lighted. Hallenstein's shop was not lighted, it being a half-holi-day. NO DEFENCE BY ALLAN. Frank Phillips, a dry-cleaner, living in Armagh Street, who was in the company of Arthur Bull, the previous witness, also gave evidence of , the occurrence. Witness was just past Dennis Bros.' going towards Hallenstein's Corner at the time. He saw three blows struck by Carey at deceased. Allan made no attempt to defend himself, but walked backwards trying to avoid the blows. When near the edge of the footpath a blow by the soldier struck Allan on the jaw, and appeared to lift him off the ground slightly. Allan fell back like a log. At the time Allan had his hands at his side and his pipe in his mouth, and he made no defence. To Mr Cassidy: About four or five persons were standing in the doorway of the Cafe de Paris, and about three other people were between witness and deceased. Hallenstein's windows were not lighted up, but witness was in the lighted part of the street from the Cafe de Paris. The civilian (Allan was facing witness), looking towards Colombo Street. He did not know what conversation took place between the two men. There was no shouting or sound, and the soldier's back was towards witness. Mr Cassidy stated that as obviously other proceedings would follow, he would make no statement nor call evidence. THE VERDICT. The Coroner returned the following verdict: — "The deceased, Fredk. Win. Allan, died at Christchurch on or about July 10, l!)l(i, and the cause of his death was a fracture of the base of his skull, resulting from a fall in consequence of a blow struck him hv Michael Carey."