WEDDING TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1809, 16 July 1906, Page 3

WEDDING TRAGEDY.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

REVOLVER IN WOODEN LEG.

The full details ot the tragedy at Lincoln on Thursday, whan the man McGutchoon Bhot himself after being arrested on a obargo of forgery just before his wedding took place, show that the detcotivos were waiting at the church for the man. At about a quarter past elovon McOuioheon, accompanied by two brothers of his intended bride, drovo up and stopped at the church. The bride, with other members of her family, wa3 reported to bo following some mile 3 behind. The detectives called MoCutoheon aside, explained to him who they were, and told him of the charge for which ho was about to bn arrested. McCutolieon replied, " Ob, I can get out of the forgery.” He was very anxious that the marriage ceremony should proceed, and said be did not objoci to be arrested after. The detectives, on their part, were as anxious that the coremony should be prevented, and told the man so, and led him away to tbo side of the church. Meanwhile the two brothers of the bride were not unnaturally indignant at the arrest of tbtir proposed brother-in-law, believing that there was no reason ior it, but wbon they were informed that McCntohcon had boen coovioted twice before—once for boreeateobng and once for forgery, they expressed their sincere thanks to .She defectives for having stopped the wedding, and one of them immediately wont hack lo explain to his sinter and other relatives I what had happened. This was dune, end | tbs bride and the others returned heme. After McOutcheon had been taken to | the side of t.he church, ho was searched by 1 Detective Ward, Detective Bishop being present, and watching the operation. Tbe search, which was made iD tbo usual way, ravoaled nothing unusual concealed about the prisoner. The clergyman (the Kav, W. bpener) who had been in the phuroh, then eamo out, and was to’d what had occurred, and ho joined rho group. McCulchcon asked if ha might be allowed to write a letter in the manse. He was given permission, and went in with the minister. Detective Ward Hat on the verandah outside, watching the two through the window, and Detective Bishop stood close by. While in the room McOuicheou made a will, drawn up at hia dictation, by Mr Spc-nce, in which ho left all his property So the girl tn whom bo was engaged. Too will was a very short document, and was properly »t " rpsttd by tbo minister and his wife. The only property ho is supposed to have pcs aessed, however, iR an interest in a life policy for £3BO, which was issued about a month ego, end which is understood to bo invalid, not having boon in existence for the requisite period. Tbo defectives waited outside for a few I minutes, and then r tjpsnqo qiiiled out j and gain that McOutcheon waDtodto go to an outhouse at the bock of the mauso. Permission was granted, end the man we.s accompanied by tho two detectives, but entered elone, and eloed the door. Detective Bishop waited for a few eeoouds and thcD oponed the door; nt that instant a loud report raDg out, end tho detective, startled and ds-ied, reeled back, Ho toooYorod himself immediately,

and on ontoring tho outhonso found McOutohoon on thu floor with a revolver I wound through tho middle of his forehead and a rovolver lying wlioro it had fallen from his right hand. Ho still bronthod, but did not speak, and sontnod to bo unconscious. Tho doctor who was ooliod in ordorod tho man’s removal to tho Christehuroh hospital, hut on the way to town tho man died.

At tho morguo a vory clean examination of tho body was made, and it wos thon found that MoCutcheori hud a wooden log, in which thoro was a largo cavity behind what would ho tho knee, extending for some distauoo downwards. In that oavity tho rovoiver could have boon plaood with obbo and safety, for a foil lining prevented it rattling about. At tho inquest on Friday tho medical ovidonoo Bbowod that tho man had fired two shots, tho first having psnotrated too long just above the hoarl. Tho dettolivo, howovor, assortod that ho had hoard only ono shot.

I The formal chargo preferred againnt I MoOutohoon was that on May 31, nt WclI lington, he forgod and uttered a cheque on I tho Union Bank of Australasia, Wellington, for tho sum of £l5B 7s 31 in the ntimo of A. W. Andrew, of Tailopu, farmer. I MoOutoheon, it appears, had beon working I for Mr Auclrow, of Taitapu, ns general I farmhand for Iho past two yours. Ho loft in May and proceeded to Wellington, where ho introduoßd himself to Messrs Haroourt and Co., laud agonts, as Mr A. W. Andrew, of Taitapu, farmer. Ho thou entered into negotiations with thorn for tbo purchase of a 415-acro farm in tho Wellington district, the prioo to be £9 5s per aero. Ho requested a mombor of tho firm to introduce him to tho manngor of tho Wellington branch of tho Union Bank, whioh was done, and ho then asked tho manngor to telegraph to Christchurch to find out tho state of his aoaount. That also was dono, and a reply wos rcoeivod giving the amount standing to tho credit of Mr Andrew. He thereupon askod for a ohoqus. and on tho form being suppliod to him fillod it np for £l5B 7s 3d, siguod it, and handed it over as a deposit on tho purohaso. Tho fraud was discovered, and She matter placed in tho hands of tho police. Tho jury returned a vordiot of “ Suicide wbilo of unsound mind.”