DEATH FOLLOWS STABBING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 732, 3 August 1929, Page 1

DEATH FOLLOWS STABBING

Quarter-Caste Negro Arrested KNIFE CANNOT BE FOUND Fracas During Drinking Bout AS a result of a deep wound in the right groin, Thomas Leavy, aged 40, bled to death last evening. This morning, in the Police Court, George Caffrey, a quarter-caste negro, was charged with murder. Leavy’s death followed a brawl at 119 Nelson Street, last evening. It is stated that the men had all been drinking together.

Leavy is said to have been stabbed ia the groin with a knife, but the police have not yet found the weapon which was used. The wound was a deep one and bled profusely, and Leavy died in the ambulance van on ■he way to the Auckland Hospital. The arteries of the groin had been severed. Tt is stated that Leavy and four other men—James Gallott, David Carmody, Frederick Cole and Caffrey—had arrived at 113 Nelson Street early ia the evening with a quantity of liquor. They had all been drinking ngether and '’affrey became troublesome. He was ejected from the house and the others of the party thought that he had gone away. This was at about ti.3o o’clock. About a quarter of an hour later there was a knock at the door and Leavy left the room to answer it. His companions heard a struggle and a few minutes later Leavy struggled back into the room with blood pouring from his right groin. He told the men that he had been slabbed, but when they rushed out into the street there was no one about. Detective-Sergeant J. Bickerdike and Detectives Knight, Moon and Bowman were dispatched to the scene from the Central Police Station and at about 8.30 o’clock they arrested Caffrey in a house in Wellington Street. Gallott. Carmody and Cole tried to stop the bleeding in Leavy’s groin by applying a rough tourniquet, but they were unable to do so. The St. John Ambulance was summoned and the officer who arrived, Mr. Arthur Langstone, did his best to stem the flow of Mood. However, the wound was so deep and so dangerous that this was almost impossible. Leavy was failing fast when he was placed in the ambulance and was dead before the hospital was reached. Neighbours in the vicinity did not hear any noise of a struggle, they said. Mr. John Preston, owner of a store nearby, was the first to hear of the fracas. Gallott went into the store and asked Mr. Preston if he could use the telephone, as he said a man had been “cut about” in a house close by and he wanted to ring for a doctor. Mr. Preston said that it was a case for the police, which he rang immediately. He also communicated with the St. John Ambulance, who were soon on the scene.

About four weeks ago Leavy rented a small four-roomed cottage at 119 Nelson Street, and it is said that he lived there with Cole and Carmody. Gallott and Caffrey were frequent visitors to the place. Leavy was a widower and was employed by the Fletcher Construction Co., whose premises are in the same street. After his arrest Caffrey was taken to the Police Station, where he was charged with the murder of Leavy and then lodged in the cells for the night. CAFFREY IN DOCK NOT PERTURBED BY MURDER CHARGE The Police Court gallery was crowded this morning when George Caffrey stepped into the dock to be charged with the murder of Thomas Leavy. Caffrey, a tall man of good physique, wore a long overcoat. He has a dark complexion and thick black hair. His age is given as 34, and he is described as a labourer. Chief-Detective Hammond asked for a remand until August 8. Caffrey, who was not represented by counsel, left the dock leisurely and did not seem at all perturbed.