SOLDIER CHARGED WITH MURDER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2826, 18 July 1916, Page 7

SOLDIER CHARGED WITH MURDER

THE CHBISTCHUBCH TBAGEDT. By Telegraph—Press Association. - Christchurch, July 17. / l Michael Carey, the soldier/who was arrested'in connection with the /death of Frank William Allen jn Saturday night, wppeared at Court txJ-3ay, charged with murder. A charge of obscene language was also preferred. Accused was remanded till Priday,;.'.' Bail was.not- ask-, ed for. ' ; At the inquest concerning, the death of Frederick William Allen, who died a3 fi result of injuries received.in a, fracas in Cashel Street on Saturday night, . the . medical evidence stated that death was > due to a fracture of'thO'Skull.V Constable Straffon deposed that lie was in plain clothes, and saw-Michael Carey, : n private belonging to the Sixteenth Reinforcements, on final leave, arguing ; the point with Allen. He heard Carey state; "You dirty —-,-I'll punch your i • — head!" The words were said 'in a low tone. Witness walked on, and then looked back, and heard Casey say: "You are a — shirker./':,You should be at the front." Allen replied, but, > witness could not catch wli'at he said. ' Allen then walked quickly away, closely i followed by Carey, who.was face to-face ' with deceased, wiioni he smacked three . times In, the face with hjs. cle'nched fist; i ■ Witness was on the'point of-arresting i .Carey for assault, but before, he'could , pet hold of him the latter "struck deceas-' «A another : Wow .with; liis-Jeft fist,, on-the-right'jaw, Knocking", deceased' down. Al- ! len's nead-struck tho asphalt heavily, j rendering him unconscious. Other witnesses corroborated the con- , staole's evidence in tlie main. The Coroner's verdict was that Ihi cause of death was a fracturo of the l/ase erf tho skull, resulting from a fall inconsequence of a blow struck him by /Michael Carey. - •/•'