THE CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 218, 20 October 1909, Page 2

THE CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY.

ARREST OF A SUSPECT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Ciiristehurch, Tuesday. From a statement of a boarder in tlu restaurant, it appears that the girl Newman and an unknown man were quarrelling. The latter tired three shots and then escaped. The building is used as a boarding house and place of minis,meat, the front jiart being occupied iy slot machines, a billiard room and a temperance bar. The upstairs rooms run 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. Immediately after Ik heard shots lired and on opening h's door the girl ran in bleeding from the mouth and face.

He. rushed out, gave the alarm, <ud Dr. Thomas arrived, but found life extinct. The detectives found no tra ■(■ of the mini, and the only guidance available is Warwick's statement. The discretion he gives tallies with that of a man previously convicted of minor offences.

The weapon used was a revolver of small calibre. One shot struck the girl in the temple and one in the jugular vein, causing profuse hemorrhage from which death quickly ensued. The third shot missed her head and piere-1 the door. Warwick also says the mini claimed the girl as the wife of another man, and warned Warwick, who had bein

out with her several times, to have nothing more to do with her. The victim was about 25 years of age, good

looking, of the dark Spanish type, and appeared rather quiet. She indignantly denied being married. It is understood she came from Wellington. The police at Preblileton hnve found a man named Roberts, who recently came from Australia and who is suspected of tli,. murder of the girl Newman. He is now under arrest. Two men have gone out to identify him.

A FULL CONFESSION. PREVIOUS DOUBT AS TO ACCUSED'S SANITY. Ciiristehurch, La-st Night. The man Roberts, who was arrested at Prebbleton, made a full confession. Tlic man was before the court in August last on a charge of using a revolver in a street row, and was then ■?• manded for medical examination as to his sanity. The doctor said he was sane, and Roberts was let off. Ho has been two years in the dominion and is a native of Scotlaud.