CHARGE OF MURDER

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 29 December 1926, Page 5

CHARGE OF MURDER

AGAINST GISBORNE MAN. ALLEGED HE STRUCK DECEASED. (Per Press Association —Copyright GISBORNE, This Day. Arising out of the death of Rob ert Thelwell, who was found unconscious outside the Record Reign Hotel, last evening, and who subsequent ]y died, Garnet Wolseley McMinn, a freezing works employee, has been arrested and charged with murder. It is alleged that deceased was struck by McMinn. McMinn’s arrest followed on a statement made this morning to Detective McLeod McMinn is a freezing works employee at Kaitaratahi, and Thelwell was also employed at the tame trade. An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death was opened before the Coroner, Mr. Levy, S. M., at Cook Hospital this morning, when formal evidence of identification was given and the inquest was then adjourned sine die, a post mortem examination meantime to be made of the body. William Guild Thelwell, brother of the deceased, said that deceased was a single man 38 years of age, and was a freezing works butcher, and was recently employed at the quarry at Patutahi. His health had always been good. Deponent last saw his brother alive yesterday afternoon, at which time he was sober. His brother had occasionally had liquor and after having it was not quarrelsome. In fact, if anything, he was rather the other way. He had never actually seen his brother drunk. The inquest was then adjourned. Later in the morning McMinn appeared at the Police Station to answer a charge of having murdered Robert Cecil Thelwell. Detective McLeod asked for a re-mand-qintil January 6th, in order to carry out further investigations. Accused asked for bail and no objection was made by Inspector Eccles, who, however, asked that in view of the seriousness of the offence, the amount be substantial. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £250, or one of £5OO, the remand being granted. <