SEQUEL TO STABBING AFFRAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 811, 4 November 1929, Page 1

SEQUEL TO STABBING AFFRAY

Nelson Street Tragedy CAFFERY ON TRIAL FOR MURDER THE drama enacted in a house in Nelson Street on the night of August 2, when Thomas Leavy was fatally stabbed as he went to the door to answer a knock, was related to Mr. Justice Smith in the Supreme Court today. George Caffery, a quarter-caste negro, aged 34. was on trial for murder.

rpHERE was no sign of strain in tlie accused's demeanour when he pleaded “not guilty" in a firm voice, to the charge. In an outline of the evidence he intended to call, Mr. Meredith said he had witnesses who would say that on the evening in question Caffery called at a house not far from the scene of the stabbing, looking for a man named Cole. He told the proprietress of the establishment that he had come to kill Cole. She replied that the man had left the place and that accused would do no killing there.

Caffery, continued Mr. Meredith, then visited 119 Nelson Street, where the woman said Cole had gone to live. He entered the house and hearing voices coming from a front room, knocked for admission. Cole was inside and apparently being afraid to open the door, Leavy did it for him. A scuffle followed when Caffery, it was believed, attempted to gain entrance. A little later Leavy staggered back saying that he had been stabbed. Evidence would be given that Caffery and a seaman named Patrick Byrne had been drinking together

throughout the day. that they went to Caffery’s home with a considerable quantity of liquor and that after consuming a portion of this Byrne went to sleep on the sofa and did not awake until the police called. Medical evidence would show that deceased had been stabbed in the groin and that be bled to death soon after the attack. Detective-Sergeant Issell. who is official photographer to the police force, gave evidence of finding the floor of the room splashed and pooled with blood, which w r as also sprinkled on the door. NO SIGN OF KNIFE How in answer to an urgent call he had rushed his ambulance to the scene of the affray w T as told by Arthur Langstone, transport officer of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. He believed Leavy dead, as blood had almost ceased to flow’ from his body. Nevertheless, he applied a tourniquet as though the man were still alive. There was no sign of a knife or other weapon about. A stream of blood had run toward a corner of the room, w’here it had collected in a wide pool. (Proceeding.)