SHOT BY BANDIT

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 149, 27 June 1933, Page 7

SHOT BY BANDIT

RESIDENT OF BONDI

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

SYDNEY, June 26. Considerable interest is being taken in the inquest in connection with the death of Mr. John Rowland, who was fatally shot by motor bdndits when returning from a Masonic meeting on May. 15. .' , Detectives were seta most difficult task, as nobody saw the occurrence, though they heard cries of distress, at midnight at Boudi near the victim's hpmc; The recovery of a revplver, however, gavo the police their first clue, and later two men were arrested in, sensational circumstances while, speeding* in Parramatta Road, a police car finally overtaking them. * Evidence was taken before the Coroner today, when Claude Wallace, 24 years- of" age, and Eric Newly", 26, were , charged .with the'murder of Mr. Rowland. Detective Mcßae produced a statement in which Wallace admitted having shot Mr. Rowland, who refused to hand over his money. Mr. Rowland told him to go to tho devil, mid attacked him with a suitcase. Wallace said he did not intend to shoot, but inadvertently pressed the unaware that thc_ safety-catch had been released. He declared that Ncwlyn was not connected with the shooting and had remained at the wheel of the car the whole time. : The inquiry wasl adjourned until Wednesday. ; I Mr. John Rowland, a resident of Old South Head Road, North Bondi, was bailed up by two men as lie was walking home about midnight on the night of May 15. He was shot over the heart when he refused to give them money, and died in hospital a few days later. The men had a motorrcar, and drove off immediately after the shooting; Residents of the locality were awakened by a revolver shot, followed by a scream. A motor-car was heard as it Was driven' away down Cuilewis Street. Many people rushed out of their homes. They discovered Mr. Rowland lying on the footpath. He was bleeding from a wound on the left side of his chest. > He was in a semi-conscious state. . Mr.. Rowland told the police that he was walking home from a meeting of his Masonic Lodge. He was in evening dress, and was carrying a small attache case. He was walking along Old South Head Road towards the golf course, when the car pulled up^ alongside him, There were two men in'it. One of the men, Mr. Rowland aaid, pointed a revolver at him and ordered him to hand over his money. Mr. Rowland replied, ''Go-to the devil," and immediately the man with the-revolyer. fired^ Mr. Rowland felt- a stinging pain in his chest and fell to the footpath. Tho car moved off and disappeared. Mr. Rowland was a married man with.one child,, nnd was about 31 years of age. ' The Government had offered a reward of £500 for tho arrest and conviction of the man responsible for the shooting.