MURDER OF PRIVATE CROMER

Evening Star, Issue 19003, 27 July 1925, Page 5

MURDER OF PRIVATE CROMER

WAR-TIME TRAGEDY SWABODA FOUND GUILTY WITNESS FROM DUNEDIN Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. BERLIN, July 25. A special military court was held at Cologne to try Franz Swaboda for the murder of Cyril Cromer, the young Now Zealand soldier who was shot in the public park at Cologne on February 7, 1919. The case had been remanded twenty-eight times, awaiting the arrival of William Osborn Clarke, one of the principal witnesses, from New Zealand. Maria Lessor, an attractive girl, who was Cromer’s companion in the park at the time of the shooting, gave evidence that Cromer sent her away when some Germans approached. He called a comrade, who ran up to him. Clarke deposed that Cromer called: “ Rill, come up and help mo shift those Huns.” Witness ran up. Suddenly a shot was fired, and Cromer fell dead. He was positive that Cromer did not draw a bayonet. Swaboda, who pleaded guilty, said that Cromer sprang at him with uplifted bayonet,, whereupon Swaboda fired. Ho did not remember any other incident. He explained that he was war-worn and under the influence of drink. The court, after four minutes’ deliberation found Swaboda guilty. The sentence awaits confirmation.—Renter.

[On February 7, 1919, Private Cromer,. of the Otago Infantry, was shot dead by a hand of German youths who had sworn to cut off the hair of girls fraternising with the members of the Army of Occupation. Franz Swaboda,, whom his accomplices denounced as having fired the shot, fled to the unoccupied territory. Ho was arrested on January 28.]