YOUNG GIRL’S DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1924, Page 5

YOUNG GIRL’S DEATH.

A SENSATIONAL SEQUEL. ARREST ON MURDER CHARGE. A MELBOURNE CASE. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Sept. I'B, 7.55 p.m. Melbourne, Sept. 18. The inquest on Irene Tuckerman, aged eleven years, whose body was found in a street at OanMeld. on August 13, ended sensationally and resulted in Thomas 7r Ties Cheshire, a newsagent, of Caulfield, aged 53, being commit tted for trial on a charge of murdering Irene Tuckerman. Bail in £lOOO was allowed. Medical evidence was to the effect that there were slight wounds about (her face and lower part of the body. Dea/cu was due to strangulation, probauiy with a cord. The only fresh evidence given by Mrs. Tuckerman was that sihe was unaware Irene sold papers for a neighbouring newsagent. William Robertson, boarder at Mrs. Tuckerman’s, gave evidence that 'he remained to mind the children while Mrs. Tuckerman went to acquaint the police with Irene’s disappearance. Cross-examined, witness denied that Irene walked into the house 'between 11.15 and 11.30 on Saturday night. Cheshire was one of the persons mentioned whom the’ police brought before the coroner as witnesses.

A sister of the dead girl gave evidence that she and Irene frequently visited Chealiire’s shop to buy papers. A tramway driver testified that he saw a man and a girl, who h« identified as Cheshire and Irene, alight from in? tram at St. Kilda on the day Irene disappeared. Detective Piggott detailed a visit to Cheshire’s shop, at the back of which was a cubicle where Cheshire slept. On a rug he found hairs, to which he drew Cheshire’s notice, and also a quantity of rope similar to that found round Irene’s body. Cheshire admitted knowing Irene, but denied that she ever took charge of his shop. Cheshire made a statement regarding his movements on the day the girl disappeared to the effect that he was away from the shop for only short periods. , Later, at the detective office, Detectice Piggott informed Cheshire that he had been identified by two men with the girl on the day of her disappearance away from the shop and the detective told him that he would be subpoenaed to the coroner’s court and warned him not to do anything foolish in the meantime. Cheshire replied: “I will not. I will face it. I am innocent.”

Before his commiittal Cheshire, on the advice of his counsel, declined to give evidence at the .present stage of the case.