Murder at Wellington.

Manawatu Herald, 20 September 1892, Page 2

Murder at Wellington.

Yesterday's N.Z. Times says :— A ghocMng murder was committed yesterday morning shortly after 11 o'clock on Waterloo quay, a sailor named Charles Greenrose, a Russian Finn, belonging to the barque Doris Eekhoff (which, recently arrived from New York), being shot through the heart by the first mate of the vessel, Henry William Finley by name, who also attempted to shoot another man, a sailor named Wm.' Lynch, belonging to the New Zealand Shipping Company's ship Waimate. The perpetration of such a crime — usually committed under cover of darkness or in some secret way— openly, and in broad daylight, within the view of a number of people, naturally caused a great amount of excitement in the city ; people could talk of nothing else, a-jd the scene of the slaughter was visited by hundreds. It is satisfactory to record the arrest of both men, which was effected in a very short space of time, Finley, through the promptitude of Constable Johnson, being safe in custody within 10 minutes of the committal of the crime, and the arrest of Seel took place a quarter of an hour afterwards. It might almost be said that Finley was caught red-handed, for when arrested he still had the weapon in his hand. From what can be gathered the murder was the outcome of a quarrel which had taken place on the previous night (Saturday). The quarrel, unfortunately, was renewed yesterday morning when the men again met, and with fatal results.' The affair occurred so quickly that many persons who were close by did not realise for a time that a tragedy was being enacted within a short distance of them. Messrs Maguire

and Murray, of the Telegraph Department, were proceeding in the direction of the Esplanade, and had got as far as the town end of Cable's Foundry when they were 'startled by the report of a pistoi shot. A t first J they imagined it was the result of a lark, but hearing a second report and ;seoing a man falling, they saw that something serious had occurred. The man using the revolver seemed \o them to be using it in a promiscuous fashion on those around. Thoy were so startled that they could not say exactly how many shots were fired, but they could see that he held the revolver covering one of the men for about ten seconds, but did not fire ; whether it waa that it refused to work, or that he did not wish to shoot the man they could not say. The men seemed to be paralysed with fear, and did not make any great ©Sorts to get out of the range of the weapon. As far as Messrs Maguiro and Murray could see, a part of the men returned to the Railway wharf, and the accused followed th'jm without any apparent hurry. Jhey thon went to the assistance of the man who was shot, a larg*. crowd by this time having collected.

, x'he accused Finley is an Irishman J\Ooub 41 years of age, he is well built, and of medium height. Whon. arrested he had a slight wound on his cheek, the result of tha previous night's brawl.

The accused Ernest Seel is a broad-shouldeved man of medium height, and i 3 82 years of age. He has a foreign appearance, but he described, himself as « an American citizen." He had a cut over the left eye.

T .ne accused will be brought before the Court this morning and charged with murdering Greenrose. Mr G. Hutchison will appear on behalf of Seel and Me Pbynton 'for Finley. The police, however, will ask for a a-emand for a week.

On Monday morning Henry 'William Finley and Ernest Seel were brought before the Resident Magis trate in Wellington, charged with murdering Charles Green rose and wounding Donald McDonald

The hearing of the charge, at the request of the police was adjourned till i nday.