CHARGE OF MURDER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1813, 28 July 1913, Page 9

CHARGE OF MURDER.

WARDER ARRESTED.

MENTAL PATIENT'S DEATH.

(By Mojraph—Press Association.) Christchurch, July 27. A serious ohnrgo is preferred against Joseph Martin Chapman, lately an attendant at the Snnnysido Mental Hospital, who was arrested this morning by Detectives Ward and 'lorrans. About three weeks nco a patient in tho Menlal Hospital named Charles lhomas M'Meekan, died in the ""ftitution and tin inquest v.-.is held by Mr. 1. A. B. Bailey, S.M., «'ho returned a verdict to the effect that death was due to haemorrhage of tlm lungs, but tho ciroumstances connrcied with M'Meekan s death were such that tho authorities caused further investigations to bo made. It is Understood that, as a consequonce, Chapman was suspended, and the whole matter was put in tho hands of the polico for further investigation. The detectives made vory searching inquiries into the 'matter and this morning Detectives Ward and Torrens arrested' Chapman on a charge of murder. Chapman is now in tho look-up at tho city police station and will be brought before the Court on Monday morning. M'Meekan. was n married man. aged 42, and ho died on July 9. In the interval following the ' inquest no suggestion of anything being wrong was allowed to leak out. M'Meekan, whose family resides' at Prebbleton, was 6aid to have died "rather suddenly," but there was nothing to suggest that his death was from other than natural causes. The arrest of Chapman, therefore, causes a considerable sensation.