THE CHRISTCHURCH MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 497, 21 October 1909, Page 3

THE CHRISTCHURCH MURDER.

HOW THE TRAGEDY OCCURRED.

Christchurch, Oct. 19,

From a statement made by a boarder in the restaurant it appears that the girl Newman and an unknown man were quarrelling and the latter fired three shots, and then escaped. The building is used as a board-ing-house, and a place of amusement, the front part being occupied by slot machines, billiard-room and temperance bar. Upstairs the rooms ruu along a passage, at the end of which the tragedy occurred.

No one saw the occurrence, but Warwick, a boarder, passed a couple near the stairhead, and immediately after heard shots fired, and opening his door the girl ran in bleeding from the mouth aud face. He rushed out, and gave the alarm, aud Dr Thomas arrived, but found life extinct.

The detectives found uo trace of the man, and the only guidance available is Warwick’s statement. The description he gives tallies with that of a raau previously convicted of minor offences.

The weapon used was a revolver of small calibre.

One shot struck the girl in the temple, aud one in the jugular vein, causing profuse hemorrhage from which death quickly resulted. The third shot missed her, and pierced the door. Warwick says that the man claimed that the girl was the wife of another man, and warned Warwick, who had been out with her three times, to have nothing more to do with her.

The victim was about 25 years of age, good looking, of dark Spanish type, and appeared rather quiet. She had previously indignantly denied being married.

It is understood that she came from Wellington.

A FUEE CONFESSION

Christchurch, Oct. 19

The man Roberts, who was suspected of having shot the girl Newman, was arrested at Prebbleton to-day. He made a full confession .

Roberts was before the Court in August last for using a revolver in a street row. He was then remanded for medical examination as to his sanity. The doctor said Roberts was sane, and he was let off. He has been two years in the Dominion, and is a native of Scotland.

At the inquest held on Monday, Alfred Burns, proprietor of the Silver Grid boardinghouse, in Manchester street, said deceased, Alice Edith Newman, had been in bis service as domestic servant for the past six months. On Monday evening, after putting the children to bed, it was her duty to come down to take charge of the office until 10 o’clock. Shortly after 8 p.m. she tapped at witness’s billiard-room window and asked him to come into the shop. She asked witness to give a room to a man whom he knew as Roberts. Witness said; ‘‘l told you before I would not allow that man to stop on the premises.” Witness felt worried at seeing the man about, and kept a continual eye on the shop. The man loitered about the place. Witness went to the office and said to deceased : “There must be something more between that man and you than strangers. You appear to me to be a bit fast.” She said, “ How dare you, Mr Burns, speak to me like that ? I have been long enough with you now for you to see whether I conduct myself properly.” With that witness went back to the billiard-room. He afterwards came out into Manchester street and came in again about 9.30 and told the girl the man was still outside, and that she had better go to bed. She said it was hard for a woman to have to hide from a man. She then went in the direction of the stairs. Witness returned to the billiard-room, and, thinking sotntthing, was wrong, stood by the door. He heard a slight cracking noise, heard someone shouting “ Murder ! Police ! ” and saw a man named Warwick rushing downstairs with blood on one of his hands. Warwick fetched a policeman, and they went up to Warwick’s room and found deceased lying on the floor on her back , between two beds, in a pool of blood, and with blood issuing from her mouth. Witness sent fora doctor and the police. The girl appeared to be dead.

Medical evidence was given and the inquest was adjourned until Friday’. Christchurch, Oct. 20.

Roberts was before the S.M. Court to-day and was remanded till October 22.