SHOT IN HEART.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 225, 22 September 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

SHOT IN HEART.

MYSTERIOUS MURDER OF COLONEL

TULLOCH.

MELBOURNE CRIME.

One of the most baffling mysteries in the history of Australian crime was the murder of Colonel Eric Tulloch, at Lauriston Hall, Wellington Parade, Melbourne, on the eve of the Great Public Schools head of the river race, for which the victim had coached the Melbourne Grammar School crew. The crime itself also ranks among the most sensational in Australia. Colonel Tulloch, besides being prominent in the rowim; world, was connected with the Abno'dford Brewery, and was well-known in business circles in Melbourne. Hr- had a distinguished war career, having comciaudcd one of the bodies of Australian troops which got furthest inland at the landing at Gallipoli. He was an old Melbourne Grammar boy. and had always been keenly interested in rowing. He coached the A.I.F. team that won the King's Cup at the war time Henley, beating Oxford, after a series of victories over other international crews. At 2 o'clock on the morning of May 8, 1926, Colonel Tulloch was found shot through the heart at the first landing of a flight of stairs leading down to the front hall at Lauriston, at which he was one of the boarders. Another bullet was fired into his body as he was in the act of falling. His cries of "Help, help, police," were a number of the other boarders, who also heard sounds of a struggle. When they rushed to the scene Colonel Tulloch was dead. The only glimpse of his assailant was that obtained by a boarder named William Lawrie, who stated that he heard the front door close, and opening it, saw a short man run down the drive and out into the street. The only traces left by the murderer were a grey felt hat, some waistcoat buttons, the shell of a revolver bullet of .25 calibre, a torch battery, and a battered torch case. Blood around the staircase and near the front door suggested that the murderer, had cut himself with portion of the battered torch case as the victim wrenched it from his .hand. Lauriston Hall, a fashionable boardingestablishment, stands well back in its grounds, almost opposite the Jolimonl Railway Station. There had been a party at the place during the night, but no one save the guests staying there had attended, After it was over, the proprietress, Mist Beveridge, went round the house and locked up. It was believed that the murderer musl have entered the place before this and secreted himself. The possibility that ht had been found by Colonel Tulloch in the act of robbing his room was suggested by the fact that the victim's wallet was found to be empty, though a watch and chain and a wristlet watch that belonged tc Mrs. Tulloch, who was away in Sydney, had not been touched. "I've Got You." The struggle seemed to have raged all over the landing and into the bathroom which opens • off it. Boarders who weri awakened by the noise, said that thej beard Colonel Tulloch shout, "I've got you." Then followed the sound of a shot, ant the Colonel's voice calling for help.- On< declared that he also cried out, "Wil nobody come?" Then there was anothei shot. The victim was seen by one boarde: clinging to the rail of the stairs a secom before he fell. What was thought to be an importan clue linking, up- with the account of Mt Lawrie of the jhort man seen runnini away was the story told to the police ba taxi driver of being stopped by a hat less, breathless man, and asked for a lift which he declined. This man, however was afterwards proved to be a respectabl citizen. Just before the inquest sensationa developments werer suggested by the repor that a revolver had been found a Lauriston, and that one of the boarder had been questioned. This revolver, it appeared at the inquest wa s owned by Lawrie, the man who ha said that he had seen a mysterious figur running away after the shooting. Th evidence of gunsmiths was called as t whether the bullet found in the victim' body could have been fired from Lawrie' revolver. On this the evidence was incor elusive. A verdict of murder by an unknow man was returned.