DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1920, Page 2

DOUBLE TRAGEDY

f AUSTHAT.TAN & N.Z. CABLE" ABSOCIATI >N

SYDNEY,, Dec 18. A double tragedy occured at Mosvale. Major Lombart, a returned soldier, shot his wife dead, and also a policeman dead. A number of policemen were kept at bay for hours, before they succeeded in effecting his arrest. Since his return from the war, Major Labarte suffered from ,pains in the head and was strange in his manner' After shooting his wife in "the presence of her maid, he telephoned to the police, and informed them of the tragedy. When they arrived he opened fire upon them, and shot Constable Mitchell dead.

Police reinforcements then suriounded the house, but they were kept at bay by Labarte’s fusilade. .Eventually a constable managed to effect, an entrance while Labarte was watching the othor police, and, escaping two shots that La—bartc discharged at him, as he closed, he managed to overpower Labarte after .a desperate struggle

FURTHER PARTICULARS. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. When the police got into telephone communication with Labarte after the tragedy, the only information he would give them was:—“l’ve gone over .the line.” Ho repented this several times. When the police first arrived they searched the House, but failed to find Labarte ,wlio, on the second visit shot Mitchell. An exchange of shots was maintained <till Labarte’s ammunition was exhausted. Five revolvers, a rifle and a shot-gun were found in the House. Labarte is a son of Canon Labarte of Melbourne. He was highly popular and won the M.C. at the war. His wife was a daughter of a prominent Melbourne lawyer. They lived on affectionate terms.