AWFUL TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1739, 3 May 1906, Page 3

AWFUL TRAGEDY.

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE,

Tho following dc toils are given by th New Zealand Herald :

A man dolibrately blow out his brains ft a Salvation Army meeting at the corner oi Queen and Victoria streets on Saturday ovening. Tho incident ia best related in tbe words of Adjutant Dixon, of the Salvation Army, who was conducting tbo meeting. “Wo mot at tho corner of Viotoria street, as is our custom, 1 ' said tho adjutant, “ and had gathered around the band a fairly large meeting. As usual, there were oao or two troublesome characters in tho crowd, who triod to intorrupt | us by asking such questions as 1 Who was tho mother of Moses and 1 Who made God ?’ Well, we stcod it for a time and went cn playing and singing Now, Bomo of our officers and soldiers havo known how to US3 their h-nds and have not yet forgotten the art, oven if tboy taka a prominent pl.t in the stroet meetings, so that it is very hard for them to koep quiet whon any troublesome people in the crowd persist in shoving our women abou’. Wo find tbo ' drunks ’ in Aucklaud a very docent lot as a rule, far moro so than cn tho other side ; but we dont't get tho help of tho police hero so readily bs wo do in Australia. Seeing that tbo men I spoke about were unmoved by our jokop, or uninilenoed by our rceiuists to keep quiet, I went off for a policeman, leaving an oflicor in cba'go of tho meeting, I was sorno timo goon, but when I returned—without a policeman —tbe ‘ drunks ’ had taken the hint, and left us in poac9. u My wife told ms a min in tho crowd had been inquiring for me. Ho said, 'I want to seo the captain,' Bhe ea’d, * Very well, he’ll bo back in a minute,’ and tho man replied, "I’d wait till ho comee.' " I went up to the man. she pointed out tom’, but just bofo-e doing so I stated She well known Salvation Army hymn I He Fardoned a Rebol Liko Me.’ Tho band was playing the air, and the soldier, weie Binging. Someone in tbe crowd said they beard tho man who asked for me speaking to himself, saying, 1 Yes ; he pardoned a rascal like me.’ "I wont up to him and said, "Well, friend, I'm the captain ; what do you want?" Ho said bo wanted to speak

mo. I replied, ‘ Well, wait till tho hymn Jis finished.' Then I saw him ro.oh 014 his band, and the next moment I hoard a terrific explosion. I put up my hands ‘0 my hoad, but I oould r ot toil then wbothi r I was alive or had boen blown into oiornity. 1 waa atuunod, but soou came to. Then I bbw the uiaD, who was a tall follow, of foie oomplexioD, and something like a sailor, lying on tho ground with a rovolvor by his aido Tho orowd oloaod round him, but 1 told of my pooplo to beep them back, which they did, The peoplo were much exoitod, and thoy would I hero been pushed by thoso ot the back I right on to tho prostrate man had wo not I formed round.

“ Th. n tho police oame, and to allay tho alarm of tho oiowd, I ordorod tho band to strike up a livdy luuo or two, and this kept tho exoitement of Iho moment down. Then I told tho peoplo what had happened. Tho police by thia time had removed the body, but I don’t know where thoy took it. Wo kept up our mooting for a littlo while end then disbandod."

11 Do you know tho man who baa bton shottho adjutant waa asked by a Herald reporter. •' I never saw him bofore. Ho waa a total strangor to mo,” waa tho reply. “ Was ho oco of tho 1 drunka' who had boen disturbing tho meeting '? " “ No, they bad gono before I returned after my aearch for a policotuan.” “ Y’ou were not hit at all ? "

“ No; but I felt very confuaed when tho report wont off, for I was faoing him at tho timo. I have oonduoted many moet-

inga iu Australia aod Now Eraland. bu have never had an oxporienoo of thia aorl

before.”