FEARFUL TRAGEDY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1109, 3 August 1883, Page 3

FEARFUL TRAGEDY.

William Davidson, ill- Lyell murderer, murdered oneoGthe warders in the Nelson i >aol on Saturday last, and then killed himself. The warder killed is named Adams, who quite recently was promoted from Lyttelton to Nelson Gaol He Daves a family of four children. Davidson had been sentenced to life imprisonment. It is stated that Davidson was under orders for removal to one of the large gaols. Between 6 anl half-past a.m. on Saturday a moat dreadful tragedy was enacted at Nelson Gaol It is at present impossible to gath r all the particulars, but it appears that the only warder in charge, John Adams, mu-t have allowed John Davidson, a prisoner serving a life sentence frir the manslaughter of Denis Quinlan, at Lyell, to leave his cell, probably [to enable him to go to work in the kitchen. Davidson appears to have been looked on as a very quiet man. for no special precautions were 'aken with him after he was sentenced. He seems to have iheen so docile as to have averted any apprehensions of his becoming violent. Adams, after liberating the prisoner, went into the yard, and then came about th» dreadful deed. The prisoner was left without control, and probably seized with a desire to escape, he seems to have taken a tomahawk aud smaahe I : n the guardroom door. That done, he seized a couple of loaded revolvers, and with one hastened to the yard where Adams was, and shot him through the head. Of course the deed was unwitnessed ! but from the surrounding circumstances it would appear to be the course pursued. The noise of the revolver awakened Mr Shallcrass, the gaoler, and Mrs Shallcrass, and both having but an indistinct ides that there was something wrong hastened into gaol. On the corridor they were met by Davidson, who presented the two revolvers. The gaoler spoke to the man firmly but kindly to induce him to retire, and Mrs Shallcrass asked him where Adams was. To this the piis insr said “ Oh yes, he’s in the yard all right.” Mrs Sl'allcrass then entreated him to lay aside the weapons, but he parleyed for a considerable time and then appeared to he somewhat pacified. He then demanded of Mr Shallcrass that heshould let him pass and escape bom the gaol, but though unarmed the gaoler opposed him. Davidson hen sp ka of the Lyell murder, making a charge ago net the woman concerned therein, an 1 as-erbing his own innocence. Whi e Mr and Mis Shallcrass were doing all they could to pacify him the man put one of the levolve.-s in his mouth and fired it. and fell deal. Adams came here from Wellington recently, and had a wife and four children, the youngest of whom was two months old. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict regarding Adams of wilful murder by David-on, and on the body of the latter a verdict of felo de se. They then adjourned till Mon-lay to consider a rider. Opinions «<*re expressed that the firearms should not have been left where they acce.-sib'e to the prisoners, and the jury also comnvuted on i> life prisoner of such a character being employed as cook.