THE COURTS — TO-DAY
CITY POLICE COURT. (Before J. R. Bartholomew Esq., S.M.)
Breach of the Peace. — Walter William Hessey (Mr Scurr) pleaded guilty to having used behaviour at St. Kilda whereby a breach of the peace was caused. — Sub-inspector Broberg said that on the 6th inst, a returned soldier named Richard Rackley was in Young street, together with his brother and another man. A fourth man living in the same locality joined them, and asked Jim Rackley to see if a man named Livingstone was in a billiard room handy. Shortly afterwards Livingstone and Hessey came out of the room, and Hessey struck Richard Rackley a blow, and then bumped him in the ribs. There was a previous conviction against him for assault. — Mr Scurr said the affair was something of a mix-up, for which defendant claimed he was not wholly responsible. There was apparently bad blood between him and the other party. Counsel added that the case had been adjourned previously because defendant’s father had died on the day set down for hearing. — A fine of £2 and costs (£1 19s), in default 14 days’ imprisonment, was imposed. -Evening Star, 27/3/1916.
BODY FOUND IN LYTTELTON HARBOUR.
IDENTIFIED AS RETURNED SOLDIER.
At 6 o'clock this morning the body of a man was found floating in the Lyttelton Harbour near the corner of Gladstone Pier and the breastwork. From seafaring and military discharges found in the clothing the body was identified as that of Richard Rackley. His mother resides at St. Kilda, Dunedin. Deceased was evidently a returned soldier, as his military discharge showed that he had served on Gallipoli with the Otago Infantry. It was also found that he had joined the s.s. Kaiapoi at Greymouth on December 23 as assistant cook, being discharged on the 9th of this month. An inquest will be held. -Sun, 15/1/1917.
HARBOUR FATALITY.
SOLDIER'S BODY FOUND AT LYTTELTON.
CHRISTCHURCH, January 18.
When about to bathe alongside the steps at Gladstone pier, Lyttelton, at 6 a.m. yesterday, two men observed the body of a man floating in the harbour, and word was immediately communicated to the police, who subsequently recovered the body and conveyed it to the morgue. According to military and mercantile marine discharges the body was that of Richard Rackley, twenty-seven years of age, whose parents reside at St. Kilda, Dunedin. He joined the Union Company's Kaiapoi at Greymouth on November 23 as assistant cook and was granted his discharge on January 9 at Lyttelton. Rackley's military discharge shows that he was on active service with an Otago battalion.
An inquest was held before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M.
Frank Marco stated that he knew deceased, who had been second cook on the Kaiapoi. He signed off on January 9, and on that night, with witness and others arrived in Lyttelton by the 10.30 train. Witness was of opinion that deceased walked towards the Kaiapoi. Witness slept on board, and understood that deceased was to do the same.
A verdict of "found drowned" was returned. North Otago Times, 17/1/1917.
A comment written on Richard Rackley's entry in the "Online Cenotaph" reports that Richard was invalided home from the war with chronic rheumatism, which was a family affliction.
There exists a family belief that he was regarded by some as too young to suffer the complaint and labelled a coward. The family also suspect that he was pushed off his ship into the harbour.
No comments:
Post a Comment