TRAGEDY ON THE PAKEHA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1985, 3 June 1919, Page 3

TRAGEDY ON THE PAKEHA.

ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT. ~ Wellington, June 2. A further .development regarding the recent tragic affair on the transport Pakeha occurred at the Magistrate’s Court. to-day, when Sergt. Edward G. F. Maffden was charged with the manslaughter of Sergt.Major Choate. The police asked for a remand,

Counsel for the accused said the military authorities had investigated the case on Saturday, and had allowed the accused to go on condition (hat he reported himself to the police at 9 o’clock this morning. At that hour fie went to the police station and was arrested. Accused was remanded until Wednesday, bail being fixed at onq surety of £SO.

The Wellington Post gives particulars of the circumstances under which Regimental Sergeant-Majon Samuel Stanley Choate met his death on the transport Pakeha, which arrived in Wellington on Friday. It states that the sergeantmajor and a sergeant commenced an argument on the main deck on Tuesday last. During the altercation the sergeant-major "called the sergeant a liar, and the latter resenting the statement, struck him. A fight ensued, and during this the sergeant-major fell on to the deck, his head striking an iron winch near one of the ship’s holds. Seeing that his opponent was badly injured, the sergeant at once summoned a doctor. Sergeant-Major Choate succumbed to Ins injuries at 1 a.m. on Wednesday last. The sergeant was placed under arrest, and a Court of Inquiry took evidence on board the Pakeha.