Arrest and Suicide.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3700, 14 July 1906, Page 2

Arrest and Suicide.

EXCITEMENT AT A MANSE. REVOLVER CONCEALED IN WOODEN LEG. A BRIDEGROOM'S TRAGIC end, Christchurch, July 12, A shocking tragedy occurred at Lincoln- this morning. A young man named Charles McCutcheon was to have been married in the Lincoln Presbyterian Church at 11.30 a.m., and all arrangements had been made. McCutcheon was at the church waiting for the bride, and there was no hint of anything in the nature of a tragedy, until at ii»i's Detectives Bishop and Ward arrested the man in the church on a charge’ of having forged a cheque for at Wellington. McCutcheon made no resistance when arrested. He remarked that he would be able to clear himself, and gave Detective Ward an account of his movements, with the object of showing that he had not been in Wellington on May 31st — the date on which he is alleged to have cashed a forged cheque for on the name of his employer, Mr A. W. Andrews,. of Greenpark. McCutcheon seemed quite resigned to his position, and, in the words of one of the detectives, was “ as cool as a cucumber.” A few minutes after his arrest McCutcheon asked that he might l>e allowed to speak to the clergyman who was to have married him, the Rev. W, Spence. The request seemed •'•reasonable and the prisoner was allowed to go into a front room of the manse with Mr Spence, Detective - Bishop had gone away a little distance, and Detective Ward remained on the steps at the front door, from where he could see the prisoner In order to speak to his ion, however, Detective WWa lost sight of McCutcheon for a few minutes, and the prisoner took advantage of the opportunity to secure Mr Spence’s permission to retire to a lavatory at the back of the manse.

The detectives were at the door a few moments after he had entered, but almost immediately a shot was heard. The door was opened, and McCutcheon Was found lying on the floor with ft smoking revolver m Ids hand aiid a large bullet wound in his forehead.

Dr Dogan was soon on the spot, and found the man still breathing' but evidently very badly wounded. He did what was possible under the circumstances, and ordered that the wounded man should be removed to the Christchurch Hospital. A start was made accordingly in a waggonette, the detectives and the doctor accompanying the prisoner, but McCutcheon died on the way. The body was taken direct to the morgue, where it now lies. How McCutcheon had managed to secrete the revolver was shown when an examination was made of the body. He had a wooden leg. and there was a large cavity in the side which would easilv con tain the weapon. The trouser leg had been pulled up to enable him to reach the hiding-place. The revolver is a large one, nearly new and contained two exploded shells. As only one shot was fired by McCutcheon after his arrest, it appears he had tried the weapon beforehand. He seems to have prepared for what he felt might happen.