A Shocking Tragedy.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 87, 6 October 1894, Page 2

A Shocking Tragedy.

TWO MEN MURDERED. SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER. (Per Press Association). Nelson, October 5. There is a rumour of a tragedy at Tophouse. There was no communication with the Telegraph office today and apparently the operator is missing. Early this morning an almost unintelligible message was received from his wife, who can operate a little, telling of shots being fired. Later. The following telegram was received from the Tophouse by Mr Calders, Chief Postmaster at 4.20 p.m, to-day :— " The three bodies of Messrs Wallis, Lane and Bateman were found near Longdney's accommodation house known as the "SopLouse. Bateman appears to have shot his two victims, and this morning himself on the verandah of Longdney's house. He was seen this morning walking about the hill side with a gun in his hand apparently out of his mind. Mr and Mrs Longdney are absent at Blenheim, and they left Bateman in charge." At 7.80. p.m. Sergt.-Major Pratt received the following wiro from the constable who reached Tophouse at 7 o'clock :-•• Found body of Mr Wallis, telegraphist, lying in a paddock behind the station with gunshot wound in the neck ; also John Lane lying on the road beyond the Tophouse with a gunshot wound behind the ear, dead. Both men were shot by W. Bateman, who afterwards shot himself on the verandah of Longdney's accommodation house." The bodies will be brought to Foxhill on Saturday evening, where the inquest will be held. Wallis leaves a wife but no family. The poor woman must have passed a terrible night beseiged by the madman and alone in the house. At Longdney's house there was a governess and two children, but they were not molested.