THE COURTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 12 January 1927, Page 5

THE COURTS.

SENTENCED FOE. THEFT. By Telegraph—;Press Association. WELLINGTON, January 11. A sentence o; three months was imposed at the Alagistrate’s Court on Cecil Geoffrey Turnbull, labourer (28), who pleaded guilty to th,-, theft of a suit and gramophone from a sheep farm near At aster urn. The police said the man had been declared an habitual criminal and released on license in 1925. ALLEGED AIURDER. By Telegraph—Press Association. [ GISBORNE, January 11. j The sequel to an alleged altercation between freezing workers was heard at the Alagistrate’s Court to-day, when Garnet Welseley AlcKinn, was charged with murdering Robert Cecil The! ■wall at Gisborne on December 28. Air E. C. Levvy, S.A.L., sat m the joint position of Magistrate and Ooioner. Inspector Eccles stated that deceased left th e hotel at 6 o’clock, being then sober. Accused called him from tno opposite side of tho street and a fight ensued, . deceased being struck _ a violent blow on th e face, and, falling back on the footpath. Thelwell was supposed to have started the quarrel. Evidence was then called that deceased was not addicted to drink, and left, the hotel in a state of .sobriety. I Inscribing the affray which led to Thelwall’s death, John Roderick, said Thelwall struck the first blow, saying, to accused: “How do you like that.” Until struck several times on the face accused had not retaliated. Then AloMinn hit Tlielwall under the chin, and he fell backwards. Accused also was sober. Tin? medical' evidence was that deceased sustained a fractured ska 11. Tile skull was abnormally thin. Further evidence of eye witnesses was that live men were striking wildly at one another. Detective AlcLcod produced a statement'from accused, which stated that Tlielwall struck him without provocation and he endeavoured to avoid the Mows having no reason to fight, as 3iad always been gond irienas. After backing "away h™ had finallv *: defend himself, and hit Thelwall on the jaw, with tli© result that he fell backwards. . . Accused was committed for trial ots bail of £2OO. The Alagistrate, as Coroner, gave a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.