SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 7 April 1931, Page 5

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS.

DYING MAN’S CHARGES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TIMARU, Monday. Serious allegations were made by a dying man, Robert Galvin X'esbitt, a lorry driver, at a special sitting of the Police Court at the Timaru Public Hospital last evening against Thomas James Cox and John Henry Fitzgerald, who w.ere jointly charged with having robbed Nesbitt of £l7, and in doing so used personal violence.

When Nesbitt was admitted to the hospital shortly after G o’clock on Saturday evening he was in a very low condition, suffering from shock, severe haemorrhage, a compound fracture of the left thigh, and other injuries, the result of an assault Avhich allegedly took place in a motor-car in broad daylight. . After Nesbitt was admitted to the hospital his left leg was amputated at the thigh, and blood transfusion was performed yesterday in an attempt to save his life. This, however, was of no avail, and Nesbitt died at 4.30 this morning.

In his depositions at the hospital Nesbitt stated that lie- met Fitzgerald and Cox in a hotel on Saturday afternoon. The three men had several drinks, and then Fitzgerald offered to drive Nesbitt home. He accepted the offer, and the car was driven to. a street off Craigie Avenue, where Fitzgerald produced a pack of cards and suggested a game. Nesbitt refused to j'lay and asked to be driven home. Cox then drove to Coonoor Road, where Fitzgerald struck Nesbitt twice on the jaw. Nesbitt made a jump to-escape, but Fitzgerald held him back. He managed to ’open the door of the ear, however, and then apparently slipped, and one of the rear wheels passed over his body. When Constable W. Devine arrived on the scene Fitzgerald strenuously resisted arrest, and the constable had to call Dr. R. W. King and two other men to his assistance.

Cox and Fitzgerald were charged in the Police Court this morning with robbery with violence, and were remanded for eight days. Bail was refused.