FATAL AFFRAY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10358, 29 August 1922, Page 2

FATAL AFFRAY.

A serious affair took place outside the Victoria Hall, Ashburton, shorty after 9 o’clock on Saturday night, resulting in the death of James Gill, aged G2, a single man and a general farm labourer, who had been well known all over the Ashburton district for about 40 years. Samuel Holland, who was arrested later on a charge of having murdered Gill, is a single man, 30 years of age, and a member of well-known Tinwald family.

The origin of the affair appears to have been in the Chertsey Hotel during the afternoon, when Holland and a party of his f’-ieuds went out from Ashburton. Gill, it is staged, rode out from Ashburton on horseback. They were having - drinks in the hotel, but each man was sober. An altercation took place on the Irish question, when blows were exchanged between Holland and Gill. Gill, first of all, it appears, called for three cheers “for the man who killed Michael Collins,” and then Holland said “You are a de Valera, are yon?” and a blow was struck without any further altercation. The parties were immediately separated by Holland’s friends, and Gill left the hotel. He, however, returned o)i several occasions, but no further trouble took place. Both parties then appear to have returned to Ashburton shortly after 5 o’clock. Later on, about 9 p.m., Gill rode up on his horse to the Victoria Hall where a dance was in progress. Gill, on dismounting, said: “My horse is fond of music. I think 1 will stay.” A man then emerged from the crowd and struck Gill a violent blow on the face, and he fell to the ground. Gill picked himself up and said: “Where is the man that struck me?” -It is alleged that (he man came out again from the crowd and struck Gill a second time. Gill fell to the pavement on the broad of his back, and this time did .not move. After a moment or two, he was carried into - an adjacent doorway, and propped up, it being evidently assumed that he would recover consciousness in a few minutes or .so. A )nan who had witnessed the occurrence took hold of Gill’s horse and took it to a, livery stable. He returned to (he Victoria Hall in about half an hour. He found Gill propped up in the doorway, went over to him and examined his pulse. From the examination, he concluded that Gill was dead, and he urged those who were about to send for the police and a medical man. The police arrived a few minutes before ten o’clock, and they summoned Dr. W. J. Mullin, who pronounced life extinct. The body was removed to the morgue.

As far as is known. Gill was a single an. He had no relatives in the Ashburton County, but a brother, Mr Thomas Gill, resides in Jerrold Street, Addington. There is another brother in Sydney.—“ Press.” The accused was brought before the Magistrate’s Court, Ashburton, yesterday, charged with the wilful murder of James Gill, on Saturday night. The police asked for a remand until sth September, and (his vas granted. The police strongly opposed accused being granted hail, but after considerable argument the Court fixed bail in a total sum of £IOOO Mr Kennedy, who appeared for accused, said the case would probably prove to be not as serious as it appeared. It was *one of unfortunate misadventure.