SENTENCED TO DEATH

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12200, 27 July 1925, Page 7

SENTENCED TO DEATH

NEW ZEALANDER MURDERED BY A GERMAN AT COLOGNE FINDING OF SPECIAL MILITARY COURT "BILL, COME AND W ME SHIFT THESE HUNS” By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. ' (Received jtilv 36-, 5.5 p.ip.) : ; BERLIN, July ■*s. . A special military court was held at Cologne to try Franz for* the murder of Cyril Cromar, a young New Zealand soldier, who was shot in a public-park at Cologne on February yth, 1919. The case had been remanded twenty-eight- times, awaiting the arrival of William Osborne Clarke, one of the principal witnesses, from New Zealand. Maria Lesser, an attractive girl, who was Cromar's companion in the park at the time of the shooting, gave evidence that .Cromar sent her away when some Germans: approached, and he called a comrade, who ran up to him. W. O. Clarke deposed that .Cromari called, “Bill, come and help me shift these Huns.”, Witness ran up, and suddenly a sjiot was fired, and Cromar fell dead. He was positive Cromar did riot draw a bayonet. 1 Swaboda, who pleaded guilty, said Cromar sprang at him with an uplifted bayonet, whereupon Swaboda fired. He did not remember any other incident. He explained that he was war-worn and under thi influence of drink. , The court, after four, minutes’; deliberation, found* Swaboda guilty. ' . . The sentence awaits confirmation.