A DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1931, Page 6

A DOUBLE TRAGEDY

(By 'Telegraph—Per Press Association) A .LOVE AFFAIR. TIMARU, March 28. A double tragedy is reported from Arundel, near Geraldine. It appears that Charles Graham MaePherson, aged 22 years, shot. Kathleen Rose aged nineteen. The parties had agreed to attend a isend-ofi’, but when the man arrived at her house, -the girl had gone off with another. She relumed home in the early morning, and wont to bod in a room in which another woman slept. MaePherson left his boots at the gate, entered the house, and shot the sleeping girl through if lie temple. The other wo. man in the room did not hear him, as she is very deaf. Later MaePiioi;,son’s dead body was found outside be having died Of a shot wound. The pair bad been friendly since childhood. It appears that the girl had made arrangements to go with MaePherson to a dance at Peel Forest last evening. MaePherson came from Fairlie yesterday afternoon for the dance. After the girl’s return from the dance, with the other man, Henry Edwin Pratt, a labourer, MaePherson, who meantime bad got a pea rifle, returned to tlie house (belonging to Mrs MeMaster, a relative of tlie girl). Ho allowed her to go to bed and to sleep. About 4 a.m., it is alleged. MaePherson removed bis boots at tlie- gate, entered the bouse and shot the girl through the temple.

An inquest was held, when after lengthy evidence was taken the Coroner brought in the following verdicts :

“That Kathleen Marv Rose died from laceration of the brain caused by a bullet from a pea-rifle fired bv Charles Graham MaePherson. ” “That .MaePherson died from lac Ci-a. tion of thp brain caused by a pCa-rifle bullet wound, self-inflicted.” 'l’he Coroner said: “Tlie evidence makes it clear that MaePherson we" actuated by a feeling of jealousy and, after murdering the girl of .his affections, shot himself.”