ALLEGED MURDER.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17618, 9 May 1929, Page 5

ALLEGED MURDER.

STRUCK BY BOTTLE.

PETTY OFFICER ARRESTED, P

FRACAS IN WELLINGTON.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 9. The inquest on the death of John Stevens, who died at the Police. Station yesterday, was opened to-day before Mr. Barton, S.M.

Eric Matthews, a' petty officer on the Diomede, was present under arrest on the charge of murdering Stevens.

Chief Detective Lopdell appeared for the police and Mr. O’Leaby represented Matthews.

George Orme, employed in a pie stall, gave evidence that a number of men were in the stall, including the deceased, and six naval men. The deceased was talking about women in general and his wife in particular with disparaging terms. A protest was made at Stevens’ remarks and subsequently he heard a smack and saw a sauco bottle being replaced on the counter. Stevens left the cart and returned later and mumbled: “If I die someone will hear about it.” Whatever trouble arose was caused by the conduct and conversation of the deceased.

Dr. Lynch, wild made the post mortem, said death was due to external 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 Wether," petty officer cn the Diomede, said the deceased and another were having a heated argument and deceased threatened to clean up the other man. Their 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 was 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 Kean, 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 where he hit him or what he hit him with. The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony stating the fracture of the skull was inflicted on the 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 at the evidence at th inquest was sworn to by the witnesses.

Accused was remanded till Wednesday next.