DOCTOR SHOT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1044, 16 May 1912, Page 4

DOCTOR SHOT.

FRENZIED MINER KEEPS THE POEICE AT BAT.

London, March 23

An extraordinary shooting tragedy, which aroused great excitement In the town, occurred in Castleford, near Deeds, on Monday afternoon.

At No. x 6 Nicholson street, lived Mrs Jane Dumb (65) and her son, George Dumb, a miner, 36 years of age, and the central figure in the tragedy. His mother for some time past had been in illhealth, and had been attended by Dr Savile Bently, assistant to Dr G. B. Hillman. On Monday afternoon Dr Bentlej went to visit his patient shortly after 2 o’clock. He was preceded up the stairs, it is stated, by Mrs Speight, a daughter of Mrs Dumb, and had almost reached the landing when George Dumb, who was at the top of the stairs, met him, and without saying anything, fired at him. The shot struck the doctor in the chest, and he turned and fled. He was able to get into his trap and be driven to the surgery. Here he was examined by Dr Twist and Dr Hillman, but they were unable to locate the bullet, and he was conveyed to the Leeds Infirmary, and subsequently removed to a nursing home in the city.

The police were quickly summoned, and some half-a-dozen officers gained admittance to the house, but for two hours or more they could not effect the arrest of Dumb. He had secured the doors of the bedrooms, and, knowing that he had command or the stairs with a revolver in his possession, it was of no use for the police to face him, and the tragedy which followed could hardly have been foreseen by the authorities. The police remained in the room below tor a considerable time, and it was as well they did so, or injury, perhaps fatal to some of them, must have come.

Dumb appeared at the windows of the two bedrooms from time to time. From these he kept the’ crowd at a respectable distance ; indeed, those interested in his movements had no option but to seek safety, for he was gesticulating, revolver in hand. The officers in the lower room of the house were comparatively safe from the weapon, because he made no attempt to come down the stairs and attack them ; but, of course, great anxiety was felt for the position of his mother, although there was no reason to believe that he would make an attack upon her. Once he fired down the stairs, and there was no knowing how long his ammunition would last.

At last a large piece of sheet iron was obtained, and this was made into a shield. Inspector Stafford, covering his body with the improvised protection, made his way up the staircase, followed by several of his subordinates. As they advanced, Lumb retreated, and seeing that the police with the protection of the shield were unlikely to be affected by his fire, he retired, was secured, and taken into custody.

But the saddest part of the affair had yet to come to light. Having secured their prisoner, the police proceeded to make an investigation, and found Mrs Dumb lying dead in her room. It was thought at first that the shock, following on her ill-health, might have been the cause ot death. Dr Hillman was hastily summoned. A very brief examination divulged the fact that she had been shot through the head, and the only theory is that her son shot her in his frenzy. Dr Savile Bentley is reported to be progressing lavourably. It is stated that he had on Saturday remarked on the unclean and untidy character of the cottage, and this appeared to offend the woman’s son, George Lumb, who during the strike had been out of work.

Enquiries at Leeds on Wednesday as to the condition of Dr. Savile Beutly show that the bullet is still embedded in the chest. The patient is in a dangerous state, septic trouble being feared. George Lnmb was at Castletord Police Court, remanded for a week on a charge of murdering his mother and attempting to murder Dr. Savile Bentley. Superintendent Ackroyd stated that the doctor’s condition was dangerous.