CHARGE OF MURDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7181, 16 January 1892, Page 3

CHARGE OF MURDER.

♦ [Pee Fbess Association.] WELLINGTON, Jan. 16. In a drunken row which occurred in a house oS Cuba 'street, about one o'clock this morning, a man named Harry Crawford, a Btevcdore, loßt his life. Some persods walking down Cuba street, about that hour, state that they heard a woman crying " Murder." They followed her to *he house of William George Raines, a stevedore, where on a verandah at the back they found Crawford lying dead, with a large bruise on his forehead. The woman, who was the unfortunate man's wife, said he had been murdered. On the police making enquiries, they ascertained that the affair was the outcome of a drunken row. According to Mrs Crawford's statement, she and her husband were working in Raineß' house, when Raineß began beating his wife. Crawford interfered,whereuponßaines struck him a severe blow, which felled him to the ground, after which he never moved. Detective Campbell after making an investigation, arrested Raineß Bhortly aftor ten o'clock on a charge of wilful murder, which will, in all probability, be resolved into a charge of ' manslaughter. Raines, who did not ap- ! 1 pear to have completely recovered from his drinking bout, was brought up at the Police Court thi3 morning, and formally remanded. A post-mortem will be held on Crawford's body to-day, the inquest taking place to-morrow. Crawford has | been in ill-health for some time past, and was brought up on a charge of lunacy a short time ago. Raines states that he never struck Crawford, and his wife supports him j but all four were so drunk that Raineß admits that he remembers little of what took place. It Beetns that Crawford and his wife took Mrß Raines home drunk, and this annoyed Raines, who began to beat her ; whereupon Crawford interfered, with fatal results. Crawford is a powerful man, but it would not take much of a blow to injure him in his weak state. Raineß' son, a youth of eighteen, who 1 appears to have been the only sober person in the house, was asleep upstairs, and when he went downstairs Crawford was j walking about, and his father never struck : him. He went out to call a policeman, and then saw Crawford lying down, but took no notice, thinking he had merely fallen down. The inquest will take place at four o'clock to-day.