Lionel Bureton’s Account.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 6 July 1909, Page 3

Lionel Bureton’s Account.

Lionel Burstou, 13 years of age, sou of the previous witness, sworn, deposed that at about the middle of last night (Sunday, 4th July), he heard the report of a gun. He slept upstairs. Went to bed at 9.30 p.m., ‘Did not hear anything until the gun went off, which woke him from sleep. Hedley slept near the landing. Hedley went to bed early, between seven and 7.30. After hearing the report he heard his mother call his and his stepfather’s names. Then Hedley came rushing upstairs. Saw Hedley sitting on his (Hedley’sl bed with the gun across his knee, either pulling out or putting in a cartridge. Rushed past him and down the stairs. When I was at .the bottom of the stairs, I looked up, and saw Hedley pointing the gun at me; Went to run into the sitting room and stumbled over my stepfather’s body. 1 then ran into the sitting room and locked myself in there. I opened the door again after about 20 seconds, and saw Hedley in the kitchen, looking in the drawer where the cartridges used to be kept. I locked the door again and opened the window, and got out and ran over to Mr Satherley’s. Did not see anything more of Hedley. Had no idea why Hedley should commit the crime. Did hot know of any quarrel between Hedley and his lather. To Detective Quirke; Did not hear that his stepfather was going to make his will. He heard that his stepfather was going to Palmerston to-day (Monday). It must have been two or three minutes after the shot was fired that Hadley came upstairs. It was moonlight, and I could see Hedley distinctly.