MURDEROUS ATTACK

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1924, Page 1

MURDEROUS ATTACK

SHOOTS INTO CHURCHES. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z- CABLE ASSOCIATION. MELBOURNE, Jan. 3. A young man named Harold Morris, residing in Kensington, .suddenly seized with religious mania, llred a shot through a window of a clergyman’s residence. He returned home armed with an axe and razor, and barricaded himself behind a table in the dining room, whore he defied his parents and the police for two hours, threatening to take iiis own life if they advanced. Finally he cut his throat and was sent to the hospital in a. critical state. MELBOURNE. January 3. Further details of the religious maniac’s doings in the suburb of Kensington show that before taking his own Hie, the young man (named Morris), first visited the Anglican Vicarage, and fired a shot through a window. Reloading, lie shouted to the vicar. Reverend Edwards, ‘‘Come on. Religion !’’ At the same time, he levi lied the gun at him. Rev. Edwards retreated unscathed. .Morris then went i-i the Methodist Church, ami also bred through a window. Proceeding home, he menaced everyone he met if. the street, with his loader! gun. Police Sergeant Nolan then covered him with a revolver, but ho was warned that if lie approached, be would ! e shot. Other police, however, arrived. and followed Morris to his home, and surrounded the house. Constable Malone, on entering, was slashed with a razor, with which Morris had armed himself. The madman barricaded himself in the dining room. After futile attempts were made by 1 is relatives to persuade Morris to surrender. his aged father rushed him, and ttiod to knock the razor out of his hand, but the father was felled by tlie smi with an axe. A police rush followed. It was too late, however, to prevent .Morris drawing the razor across hi« own throat. The residents in 1 lie suburb were terror-stricken by the doings of the maniac, and barricaded themselves in Lln-i; bouses until Morris was raptured.