CHARGE OF MURDER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 107, 8 May 1944, Page 3

CHARGE OF MURDER

DEATH OF U.S. SOLDIER ARMY CAMP TRAGEDY P.A. AUCKLAND, This Day. Charged that at Papakura Camp on March 3 he murdered an American serviceman by shooting him with a rifle, a New Zealand soldier, Thomas Rex Beagle, 19, stood trial today before Mr. Justice Fair, in the Supreme Court. The trial was a sequel to a United States corporal, aged 25, who had been stationed at an American camp at Opaheke, being found dead in front of a sentry box at Papakura Camp after the accused had been on sentry duty there. Mr. V. R. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, and Mr. Williams conducted the case for the Crown, and Mr. A. L. Tompkins, of Hamilton, and Mr. G. H. Wallace appeared for the accused. ,4Mr. Meredith recounted the law respecting a second count of manslaughter against the accused, pointing out that a murder charge could be reduced to manslaughter only if the person indicted had been given such grave provocation as to cause -him to lose his self-control. Counsel then outlined the evidence on the lines given in the lower court, stating that Beagle was one of the guard on a petrol dump at Papakura Camp. He had been on leave from February 28, and was due on duty at the camp at 4 p.m. on March 3. He did not turn up at that time. It would be shown that "Beagle and the American who was subsequently found dead had been drinking together in Papakura hotels. Testimony would be given ' that Beagle. wanted to fight the other man, and slapped his face, following an improper suggestion by the American. It would be shown,that the American apologised and persisted in trying 'to make friends. They had been arguing for about two hours before being reconciled. .Shortly after 7 p.m. Beagle and the American arrived at the camp, and Beagle went to get his equipment to go on guard. The American accompanied him to the sentry box. Soon afterwards a shot was heard and Beagle came back and said, "The Yank's been shot." The American was found dead "at the sentry box with, a bullet wound in the chest, and a discharged cartridge was taken from Beagle's rifle, said Mr. Meredith. Beagle was put under arrest. It would be shown in evidence that the American again made an improper suggestion to Beagle when he was on duty, and persisted in it. so he shot him. When under arrest; Beagle told a mate that a mark on his wrist was caused when he was a boy and had to fight a man who made the same suggestion to him. Mr. Meredith concluded that before Beagle and the American went to the sentry box the accused had made the startling statement that he was "going to shoot the Yank." (Proceeding.)