A DUNEDIN MURDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19562, 4 May 1926, Page 7

A DUNEDIN MURDER

MAN KILLS HIS MATE THEN GIVES HIMSELF UP “I'M NOT WORRYING ABOUT IT” A REMARKABLE ARE AIR [Per Prew ARsocfation.] DUNEDIN, May 3. At about 7 o’clock this morning. Patrick John Jia ger accosted Constable Watkins at the South Dunedin Police Station anti said he had murdered his mate, Arthur Crcagh, who lived with him in the same room in a private boardinghouse in Cargill Road. Sergeant Murray went to the house •and found Crcagh lying on a bed with his throat cut, his head being almost severed.

Jager said: “I did the right thing. If I hadn’t killed him ho would have killed me to-night. He’s after me for my money. There’s a gang watching me. I’m not worrying about it, as I did the right thing.” Both men had been mates since boyhood land had worked together for about 20 years as machinists at Donaghy’s Rope Works. Both were aged about 40, and were always considered tho best of pals. It is stated that Jager has been behaving peculiarly lately. Ho told the police that ho tried to drown himself yesterday. The theory is that the murdered man was first hit on the head with a bottle, as when the police arrived parts of a broken “blue peter’’ were found on tho bod and floor. Prior to giving himself up. Jager threw £93 in notes into the front garden of a house adjoining. Victim Caught Asleep Tho people in the house state that neither man drank to any extent. is described as being somewhat miserly. Tho fact that Jager’s right hand was covered with blood suggests that ho went round to the back of the bod to commit his terrible act. There were no signs of a struggle, indicating that when attacked with a razor Crcagh was either unconscious or asleep. An inquest was formally opened in the afternoon and adjourned. Jager will appear at the Police Court tomorrow on a charge of murdftiu _ r