CHARGE OF MURDER

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 285, 28 August 1922, Page 6

CHARGE OF MURDER

FARMER ARRESTED FATAL AFFRAY AT ASHBURTON FEELING OVER IRISH QUESTION

BY TELEGBAPH.—PBESS ASSOCIATION. Christchurch, August 27.

Samuel Holland, aged 35, a member of a well-known Ashburton farming family, has been arrested at Ashburton on a charge of the murder of James Gill, aged 62. a farm labourer, who has been a well-known figure in the Ashburton district for the past forty years. The facts appear to he that about one o’clock last night a number of men were standing outside the Victoria Hall (Ashburton), where a dance was in progress. Gill rode up on horseback, and in dismounting, remarked that his horse was fond of music. It is alleged that Holland tbereui>on stepped from the bunch and hit Gill, knocking him down. Gill picked himself up, and asked who had struck him. Holland, it is said, stepped out again and struck Gill a second tiine. Gill fell to the ground in the middle of the roadway, and did not rise again. Holland went away, and some of the others of the party propped up Gill in a doorway, thinking he would soon come round, and one of them took his horse away to stable, it. Half an hour afterwards this man returned, and, on examining Gill, came to the conclusion that he was dead, and sent for the police and a doctor. The latter, on his arrival, pronounced life extinct. It is stated that earlier m the day Holland and some friends were at tho Chertsey Hotel when Gill rode up. While Holland’s party were at the bar, Gill came in and called out “Three cheers for the man who killed Michael Collins.” Holland or one of his fnends retorted, “you are a De Valera, are you? Then there was a scuffle bebetween Hofland and Gill, hut they were separated. Gill then loft. Holland). will appear at the Court in the morning on a charge of murder.