THE ASHBURTON MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1923, Page 1

THE ASHBURTON MURDER

IS KISSEL MAD? [by TELEGRATH —l-rtn l-ItESS association.] ASHBURTON, June. 14. "Am I mad—Am I mad—l shoot McKenzie— I told him not to he silly— I banged my head and had a terrible night.” This is the dramatic statement attributed to Albert Frederick Maxwell Kisscll, a sturdy youth of 18 years, who was arrested by the Ashburton police yesterday on a charge . of murdering one of his best friends, James Henry Suring McKenzie, aged Go. The affair occurred at the well-known Coldstream Estate, where the victim was employed as caretaker of the homestead of John Studliolme. during the latter’s absence on a visit to England. McKenzie was apparently shot as lie lay asleep in the homestead. The circumstances surrounding the case are peculiarly distressing. Although the accused man says he shot McKenzie, he could not, by any effort yesterday, account lor his action. He does not even know how ho did it or how the affair took place. The men had been on the most intimate of terms and Kissel was in the habit of spending a great many of his evenings in the homestead with McKenzie. The friendship was first formed on Quail Island where McKenzie was the caretaker in charge, hi the homestead a sad and gruesome sight met tho eyes of the pi • lice. The body of deceased was lying huddled on the Hour in a pool of lilood. He was clad in pyjamas and it did not appear that there had been a* struggle. No weapons wero found anywhere about, and it seemed its through deceased was done to death by liis assailant who fired one shot at tiv man as lie awakened and that in the death struggle deceased writhed over and dropped to the iloor.

A story of Kissel's movements, behaviour and peculiar statements, is told by his eini lover Mr kiltie, a neighbouring farmer. According to him Kissel took a team of horses out to the paddocks yesterday morning as usual and worked in a normal manner till about mid-dav when lie went to his employer and said: '“I can see McKenzie all the morning.” Naturally such a strange remark aroused tbo curiosity of nis listener, who questioned hint further. Kissel went on iramatii-ally : “Am I mail. Am T mad. [ shot McKenzie. 1 told him not to be silly. i ’ounce I my bead and I bad a terrible n i ilu tin re.’’ Later oti he -aid: ‘-There were turee cartridges in my box la-i night ami now there are only two.” They went together to MeKoi.zio’s and found him killed.

A sporting gun with an empty ettrtiulge was found at Kis-el’s quarters. The accuse I was brought I elnre the Court this morning and was remanded for eight- days for observation. THE MERLE RED MAX. M’Kettzte wits very well known in Lyttelton. lie is stated to have been a. son of the I *te Bishop of Lincoln (England). He to.ik chaige of Quail Island about eleven and a half years ago. a-iid retired from the position about three years ago. lie was a man of deep religious convictions, and it was :t. desire to be of service to the suffering that prompted him, shortly after his arrival in New Zealand, to take charge of the lepers on Quail Island. For ti long time ite was in sole charge of the island in the days before a imiteoii was appointed, and Ins duties were particularly arduous. It was the heavy nature ol the work tli.it eventual!v led to his retirement.

He was a prominent member ol Holy Trinity Chinch. Lyttelton. a liberal eontrihttior to its lands and a generous giver to the lepers. He u.-ts always a prominent figure at the llower shows held in connection with the church, and his many visits on business for Quail Island made him well-known throughout Lyttelton. He was unmarried. Ho has sisters in London. THE ACCUSED. Kissel is stated li.v those in Lyttelton who know him to be about twentytwo years of age. lie was educate'! in Lyttelton, where his mother, who was a widow, kept a store at the top of Oxford Street (the store now kept bv Mr Torrence-). From early vonth 1 1-..? boy was always Friendly will M’Kenzie. and was in the habit ol spending his school holidays with him on Quail Island. About the time that Kissel left school his mother married again and went to live in the country and Kissel found work on a farm. At about the same time M’Kenzie also left Lyttelton. The friendship . was still maintained, and Kissel visited McKenzie when opportunity offered, and it, was during one of these visits that M’Kenzie found a situation for the youth on a. place close to where he was employed at Coldstream. Kissel is spoken of as being » bright l,ov and rather more capable than tluavorngo. and there was certainly tm suggest ion noticed-by those who knew him in Lyttelton of any mental derangement .