TRAGEDY IN BACK-BLOCKS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 18, 16 October 1920, Page 6

TRAGEDY IN BACKBLOCKS

YOUTH SHOT BY RETURNED SOLDIER MURDERER STILL AT LARGE B7 Telegraph—Press Assooiatloa Taumaranui, October 15. . There was a murder at the backbloclw : settlement of Tokirima, 25 miles out Inst night. It is etnted that a returned soldier, W. Anderson, 30 or 40 years of age, went to the house of Loft brothers, and found Jim Loft, a married man, and his nephew-, Fred Tolfer, at home. The. man asked for tea and broad, whioh Loft got. He askod, also, for an overcoat, and thlm said: "Are you all at home?" Loft replied: "Yes." Anderson said: "I will set the two of you," meaning the ■ Loft brothers. 'He than pointed a rifle At Jim Loft, but Fred Telfer, aged 18, interposed, receiving the- charge in bio chest. He died in fivo minutes. The other brother was absent at their other farm at Ohura. Jim Loft rushed through a bedroom, and escaped tblrough the window, 6wam the> Ohura River, walked barefoot through the bush a di.sI tance of 16 miles to thfe Aukopne boatlnmling, on the Wungauui River, where he is now in bed in a state of collapse. The Taumarunui police went out this morning with this Coroner. Anderson had been "sacked" by Loft brothers. It is alleged he had a grudge against them. Anderson is still at large. He used to live in Taumarunui. He is.well known as a Scotch piper, • Later. Anderson, who had bfeen discharged from employment, liad not been near Lofts' farm for two weeks. He turned up at 7 o'clock last night with a .303 rifle, opened the kitchen window from the outside, and after askine for food and an overcoat, pointed the- rifle through the window at Jim Loft. As the.'gun went off, Frank Telfer made a rush and received a bullet in the- heart, In the kitchen were the two Loft brothers, Mrs. James Loft, and four children, Telfer, and a man named Morris, who was installing a milling: plant on the farm. Mrs. Loft hid the children .under a - table when thlo firing started,' Jim Loft jumped through the bedroom window, and another shot was hpard outside. Jim called to bis brother, "I am all right, then swam the Ohura River, and made, barefooted, for Aukopae. To-day Anderson secured ft further supply of cartridges from a settlor's, and was .afterwards traced by a search, party to the tback bush near Roadie's whare, where- he was fired at, but retreated further into tn» 1 An inquest is being held at Loft's this evening. It is raining hard, _ and the search party are having a trying time. .