MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 97, 27 April 1933, Page 7

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

RELIEF WORKER'S DEATH. [ Per Press Association. I CHRISTCHURCH, April 26. Following tho death on April 18 George Johan Christopher Bank, age[ 51, while working on the Summit Roa<i relief works, Clarence George Gibson, a shepherd, aged 44, also employed on the same relief works was oharged ia the Magistrate’s Court to-day with unlawfully killing Bank, thereby committing manslaughter. Daniel Tomlins gave evidence that he was working on Summit Road on April ]B. At about 1.20 p.m. he heard an argument in a gang he was passing. Ho thought it was a bit of fun. Witness walked closer and heard Gibson say that Bank was “A loafer.” Bank said that if he was loafing on the job Gibson was scabbing on the job. Gibson said he would have no one call* ing him a scab and struck Bank, who fell over the edge of the road. Witness was not positive that Gibson’s fist actually struck Bank Bank fell on his left side and Gibson said, “Get up and I’ll give you another one.” Witness thought that the rock gave way, causing Bank to slide down on his face. It was evident that Bank was badly hurt, and an ambulance was sent for. In the meantime Gibson and others worked on Bank trying to bring him round. Ernest William Robson, another workman on tho job, gave a similar account of the occurrence. Gibson had called Bank a loafer several times and Bank had replied that Gibson was a scab. Bank, said witness, pushed Gibson with his shou’der and Gibson struck Bank two blows with fists on th® chest. Bank fell, got up immediately, but fell again, striking hia chi i on tho rock.

Detective McClurg produced a statement by accused, Gibson. Accused, in the statement, told of a previous conversation with Bank in which he (Gibson) remonstrated with Bank for loafing. Before the accident Bank, who was not working, said to Gibson, who was splitting rock, “That will take some of the fat off you.” Gibson called him a loafer and Bank came up to him, pushed him with his shoulder and then stepped back with clenched fists. It was then that Bank fell off the road Gibson denied that a blow was struck by either man. Dr. Pearson, pathologist, who conducted a post mortem, said there was an injury on Bank’s chin and a bruise over his heart. Neither, ho thought, was the cause of death. There was bleeding into the base of the skull unaccompanied by any evidence of injury or disease. There was also a tear in the muscle in the nock unaccompanied by any abrasion or bruising. This, he thought, was caused by a sudden jerk of the head not associated with injury to the chin. He believed that tho bleeding into the brain was caused by the same jerking movement of the head, which had burst a vein in the base of the skull. Tho jerk might have been an involuntary movement when Bank missed his footing and fell. Gibson was committed for trial, bail being fixed at £5O and one surety of £5O.