MURDER.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18682, 4 May 1926, Page 11

MURDER.

DUNEDIN TRAGEDY. VICTIM'S ROOM-MATE ARRESTED. STATEMENT TO POLICE. (special ro "tite press.") DI'NEDIX. May 3. Between 6 and 7 o'clock this morning, Patrick John Jager, aged about •JO, struck his room-mate and lifelong friend, Arthur Creagh (also about tho same age) wih au empty bottle, following the onslaught by almost severing Creagh's head with a razor, while the murdered man was asleep in the room that both uieu occupied at the- Railway Workshops Private Hotel. A firm frienship was believed to have existed between the two men, both of whom were single. They bad been eraployed as machinists at Donaghy's Rope \Vorks South Dunedin. They had known one another since boyhood, had worked together for twenty-two years, land about a year ago Jager, who had been living at the house for tour years, induced his friend to share a room with him. They seemed almost inseparable. Until the exhibition of queer behaviour on Jager's part, beginning a few days ago, there had been no suggestion of a quarel. It is alleged that yesterday Jager attempted to commit suicide by drowning. Jager himself made a statement to the i>oijt.h Dunedin police. Constable Watkius was sweeping the watollhouse shortly before 7 this morning when there burst in upon him a collarless man, his right hand covered in blood. | 'l've killed Arty Creagh," bhouted this man, who was recognised as Jager. The constable secured the man and took him to the residence of Sergeant Murray at the rear of the station, j "Yes, sergeant. I've killed Arty Creagh," Jager declared when the coustable informed Sergeant Murrav of the position. "I did the right 'thing," Jager added. "7f I hadn't killed him he would have killed me to-night. He's after me for my money. There's a gang watching me. I'm" not -worrying, sergeant, as I did the right thing."

The Scene of the Tragedy. The sergeant went to the house to make certain of the- truth of Jager's startling admission. Of i-..j of the two sisters who conduct the boarding house, the sergeant asked if r 'reagh was in. ''You will find him upstairs," was her reply. "Wo art just preparing their breakfast." "Are you sure?" returned the sergeant, who then informed the woman of what Jager had said. No one in the house had heard any disturbance. The ghastly sight in. the men's room fully confirmed Jager's confession. The sergeant found Creagh's body fully covered with blankets, except that the loft leg was hanging over the side. Broken glass was scattered over the bed and the floor, and in a pool of blood Creagh's head lay almost severed from the body. On the floor was a blood-stained razor. Jager had slept in his bed, which lies to the left of Creagh's, but hefore, giving himself up to the police, had made some attempt to put it in order. The other bed was not occupied last evening, having been made up yesterday by the murdored man following the departure of an Exhibition visitor.

Jager's Mental Condition. Jagcr was stated to be somewhat; miserly in his habits; at least, lie was very thrifty. He had £390 to his credit in the bank, and while on the way to the police station he threw a wad of notes, valued at £93, over the fence of a residence in Cutten street. He informed Sergeant Murray of this, and the money was recovered. The people in the house say that neither of the men drank to any extent, though on Saturday eveningsit was sometimes their custom to lay in a small store of beer. Those in charge of the house speak of both men as quiet and orderly, though Jager's recent behaviour led to suspicions about his mental condition. Creagh spent last evening with a relative, and returned home about 9.30. There were no signs of a struggle in the room, the circumstances indicating that Creagh, when attacked with the razor, was eithar unconscious from the blow from the bottle, or still sleeping. An inquest was formally opened in the afternoon and adjourned. Jager will appear in the Police Court to-morrow on a charge of murder.