TRAGEDY OF A PARTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2719, 26 January 1910, Page 7

TRAGEDY OF A PARTY.

FATAL SEQUEL TO FIGHT BETWEEN FRIENDS.

A dramatic story of a man’s struggle -with one of his closest friends was told at an inquest at Bristol on Wednesday December 8., on Charles Herbert Hatton, aged thirty-four, a solicitor’s clerk. It appears that Hatton reached home on Friday last about midnight. He had a wound on his temple and looked dazed-. He complained to his wife that he had fallen out of a taxicab. He would not see a doctor, and dltcr sleeping till the morning he woke up and was given a cup of tea. He had a sip and suddenly fell hack dead. The extraordinary incidents -which preceded Hatton’s arrival home were related by Charles Edward Gulliver, a Bristol commission agent, who said' that Hatton was his best friend. Last Friday, with several other friends, they had a motor trip, and after dining at a club, went to the witness's house, where they were to have a social evening. Several guests were expected, and, pending their arrival, the witness suggested to Hatton that they should sleep for a. few minutes, so as

to be fresh for the party. They went to sleep in armchairs in the drawingroom and . about half an hour later, when tlio witness awoke, ho found Hatton was not 1 in the room. Gulliver went into the dining-room to look for Hatton, and just then heard his wife shrieking upstairs. Hushing up, lie found her in the bathroom and Hatton was also there. His wife exclaimed: “This man has insulted me.” Hatton said: “For God’s sake, Charlie, forgive me! I know 1 have'done wrong.’’ “I said to Hatton,” Gulliver went on to relate, “ ‘Get out, you villain,’ and struck him a blow on the head with my fist. I started to try to throw him out. We had a struggle on the top of tlie landing, and eventually we fell downstairs. Hatton fell right to the bottom. Then there was a violent struggle in the ball, and as Hatton went out of the door he fell. I afterwards went out and pushed him down again, and he got up and ran away.

“[ would not have caused any personal injury. I loved him too much What I did, I aid in a fit of passion, to protect my wife’s honor. I intended to give him a thrashing, which I thought I was entitled to do. If I could recall avliat has happened I would give my own life. I loved him dearly.”

The jury returned a verdict of Manslaughter against Gulliver, adding that he acted under great provocation. He was admitted to bail, and left the court in tears.