SHOT DEAD.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1926, Page 4

SHOT DEAD.

MELBOURNE TRAGEDY. WELL-KNOWN MAN MURDERED. SYDNEY, May 14. Melbourne-.was shocked to read last Saturday of the murder of a well-known man, Mr Erie Tulloeh', which had occurred at an early' hour that day. Mr Tulloeh, who was a lieutenant-colonel in the Australian Imperial Force, apparently was awakened by the movements of a burglar, and coming to grips with him, was shot twice by the man at short range. The tragedy occurred in a fashionable East .Melbourne boardinghouse, Lauriston Hall, and although a number of other boarders were awakened by the shots, only one saw the murderer, and that was only a fleeting glimpse of a hatless figure running down the drive to the road.

The t ragedy was deepened by the fact that Hr Tulloeh was coach of the Melbourne Grammer School rowing eight, which on Friday afternoon bad qualified for t lie schools’ hcnd-of-thc-river race, and on the afternoon of the murder was scheduled to contest the final. Mr Tulloeh won the Military Cross at Gallipoli, where, at The Nek, he achieved the distinction of leading a halfhattnliou further into the Turkish lines than any other officer before being forced to return to the Australian ranks. BURGLAR'S MOVEMENTS. The murder was committed at approximately 2 o’clock. Between , midnight and that time it had rained practically incessantly, and a hat which the murderer left behind was dry. The detectives therefore formed the theory that the man had been inside the house for at least that period—a suggestion deepened by tlie fact that the assassin left no marks of muddy boots. The last boarder arrived home at 12.45a.m. and the police believe that the murderer was then secreted in the house, and that, ho remained in his hiding-place for the next hour to give the last arrival time to get sound asleep. He entered by n kitchen window on the ground floor. His whole movements suggested familiarity with the inside of flic bouse, for the rapidity with which be left it after firing the fatal shots without being seen by tho quick-ly-aroused inmates proved that lie knew the disposition of the furniture and the exits. On this account the investigators think that he might he a former employee or boarder of the establishment. TRAGIC STRUGGLE.

Mr Tulloch’s room was on the first floor. His bedroom was not disturbed. His trousers were found on the floor with Ll io pockets empty, and a wallet, emptied of everything except private papers, was also on the floor, close to the bed. It is believed that the murderer was examining this bv the light of an electric torch when Mr Tulloeh awoke. It is supposed that the man took to bis heels, and that Mr Tulloch, chasing him, overtook him in' the bathroom, where the struggle began. The deceased, a strong, athletic man. is believed to have gained the upper band, called out: “Now I’ve got you. Help! Hein!” and turned"on the •leotric light, when the assailant fired the fatal shots. The body was found about 40lt from the bedroom door. Two women boarders beard Mr Tulloch’s shoot, and they were first on the scene, actually seeing him fall. A boarder on the first, floor heard the front door opened, and rushing out. saw the murderer running towards the street. A lat he left, behind was traced to a Hourko street store, where it was purchased about three weeks before the crime, and the hatter was able to as-

sure the police from a close examination of it that the man used no oil on bis hair, and was slightly bald in front.