MURDER CHARGE.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1339, 9 January 1923, Page 4

MURDER CHARGE.

THE TREDEMIAM TRAGEDY.

FINNIGAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL (By Telegraph. Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Monday. The inquest on Con O'Keefe and the hearing on the charge of murder against John Finnigan were resumed at the Police Court before Mr J. W. Fovnton, S.M., to-day, when a large crowd of spectators viewed the proceedings. The chief detective pressed the charge against the accused, for whom Mr Allan Moody appeared. William Kirkwood, fireman on the Tredenham, was recalled by Mr Moody, to whom he stated that on the morning after the assault he, together with Finnigan and the Arab fireman, got the forecastle breakfast from the \\' ey. He did not see Finnigan go across with food to O'Keefe's bunk. O'Keefe did not wake up in the morning and remained in the bunk until taken ashore at 10 o'clock.

Dr Milsom gave evidence as to having been called to see O'Keefe at the hospital. The man was in the padded cell, and after examining him and finding some signs of severe cranial injury, as revealed by partial paralysis, witness ordered his removal to No. 1 ward for observation. Next morning an attempt was made to Xray the injured man, but he was so rest-less that this was found impossible. The man's condition grew worse and that night witness decided to open his skull to_.see if anything could be done to relieve him. On the operation being performed, blood rushed out. This gave the patient considerable relief, but it was soon seen that there was also a hemorrhage inside the membrane of thte brain. For this nothing could be done and the patient died next morning. Robert Morrissey said that after the assault in the Tredenham's forecastle he heard Finnigan say to the prostrate man, "Get up on your feet!" O'Keefe lay still, without speaking. There was blood on his face. Witness said to Finnigan next day: "I thought you would get into trouble last night," to which -the accused said nothing. Finnigan was drunk on the afternoon of New Year's Day. but appeared to be sober when he assaulted O'Keefe. The chief detective: Did you know of any ill-feeling between the accused and O'Keefe?—No. To Mr Moody: He did not think at the time that O'Keefe was seriously hurt. Mr Moody: Finnigan was drunk on New Year's Day?—Yes; he came down to the ship drunk in the afternoon and went away again. When you pulled him away from O'Keefe he was pretty excited?—Yes. The chief detective: He was not drunk just before the assault?—No. William Thomason stated that on the morning following the assault O'Keefe lay in his bunk, moving his arms and legs about. He kicked the blankets off and was very restless. Robert McKenna. a fireman on the steamer Te Koa. gave evidence that he was drinking with other firemen, including Finnigan. on New Year's Day. He went on board the Tredenham that night and witnessed part of the assault. When he saw/ Finnigan punching O'Keefe after dragging him out of his bunk, he ran for help to the other end of the forecastle. He did not see. the kicking, but heard noises as if there was kicking. Witness said that on Saturday he was locked up for drunkenness and this morning he saw the accused in the prison van. He asked him what be was "up" for. and Finnigan re-p-lied that he was blamed for .killing a man. Witness said, "Well. I,will have to tell the truth about what I saw in the case." At the Court Finnigan pointed out Detective Gourley to witness, saying he would have to give evidence. Mr Moody: You and Finnigan had been to many hotels on New Year's Day?—Yes. You were pretty tight?—Yes. And Finnigan was as tight as the rest of you? -Yes. Do you remember him buying 12 bottles of beer?-Yes; and ?■ bottle of rum. too. What became of it?—T dorit' know. Well, we will assume it went down your throats?—Yes. Evidence of several of the ship's officers was to the effect that t' n ey had no knowledge ,of anv ill-fee'ing between Finnbran and the dead fire- . man. Detective Gourley gave evidence as to the arrest of the accused, who denied all knowledge of the affair, on a charge of having inflicted actual bodily harm. Accused declared -that he had left the ship at one o'clock on New Year's Day and had not returned since. Next morning witness informed him, in the presence of his solicitor (Mi Moody) that O'Keefe bad died and he was to be charged with murder, to which Finnigan replied: "It is not my fault." Mr Moody asked that the charge be reduced to one of manslaughter, as there was no evidence of any motive, and if the accused had caused the death of the.other Unfortunate fireman, there was no intention to kill. The chief detective: There -is evidence of motive in that accused blamed the other man for laying in his bunk whilst he (Finnigan) had to go to work. The accused was committed to stand his trial for murder at the Supreme Court. . The coroner returned a. verdict that death was due to sub-arachnoid haemorrhage of the brain, resultant from injuries to the head caused by an assault by one John Finnigan on or about January 1. 1923.