MURDER TRIAL

Evening Star, Issue 17955, 28 April 1922, Page 4

MURDER TRIAL

CASE OF HATCH OF HOBEE. ODEBAH CONVICTED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. SYDNEY, April 27. (Received April 27, at 11.30 p.m.) John Curran was found guilty of murdering Thomas Hogan, Mayor of Mcree, ami was sntilcnced to death. Tho defence entered a pica of insanity. Tho accused, in giving evidence, blamed Air Hogan for the loss of a stadium which accused had built at Alorcc, but- for which ho failed to obtain a license to hold boxing contests. Ho went shearing, and while lie was away Air Hogan, as mayor, obtained tho permission of tho Chief Secretary, broke tho locks of the stadium, and held a boxing contest for patriotic purposes. Accused demanded to sec Mr Hogan’s authority for entering the stadium, and during the altercation the tragedy occurred. [On December 12 the Mayor of A.’oroe (Air X. R. Hogan) was shot dead while walking home from church. A man named Curran was arrested. He said to tho police; “I am satisfied that 1 shot him.” An eyo-wilncss said that the assailant fired throe shots at Air Hogan’s head and body, followed by two more at tho prostrate body. Curran possessed a. rifle, also a belt wiili an automatic revolver ami oGO round;; of ammunition. Curran served a sentence some years ago for attempting to shoot a solicitor. Air Hogan had been thirty-one years, in Alorcc.]