Disappointed in Love he Shoots Himself

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 118, 29 March 1890, Page 3

Disappointed in Love he Shoots Himself

. -■■..-.■,. o-^- — — '• Melbodrne, March 18. ■ A sensational suicide was committed at South Melbourne on the 14th _ instant. A plasterer named Peter M'Quail shot himself while confined in one of the cells at the local watch-house. He had been paying iis addresses to a seryant girl named •Jessie Cameron, who was employed by Mr Evans, but he had on thre£ separate occasions forgotten his manhood, and struck her on the face. She forgave bim twice, but yOhised to pardon. him tho third time, and threatened to leave Melbourne. He •expressed deep regret for his brutality tried to persuade ber to overlook the matter, but she refused to do so. He called on her abont half past 1 1 o'clock, and made a final appeal. As he had previously threatened her life, Bhe was afraid, from his manner when he left her, that he intended mischief, and, when she heard him returning iri the afternoon she locked beraelf in the sitting-room in Evans' house. Disappointed at not finding the girl, M'Quail made his way up to tbe bedroom/ where he tore to ribbons •every strip of clothing that was in the Toom. Mr Evans found him wandering about the house in an excited etate arid handed him over to the senior constable, who took him to the lock-up. Prior to placing him in the cell they searched him in the usual manner, but did not notice that he had- a revolver. After he had been 'half an hour in the cells a Teport was heard, and on the officials opening the door they found the man ; dead in the cell, with a bullet wound in his head and a revolver in his right hand. It is surmised that he intended to murder the girl first and then commit suicide. Deceased was a man of splendid physique arid a capable tradesman. ("For continuation of Reading Maiter see fourth page.)