FATAL FAMILY QUARREL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3018, 1 April 1926, Page 2

FATAL FAMILY QUARREL.

FATHER SHOT BY SON

Sydney, March 30. Ait the inquest in connection with the death of Alexander Strong, shot dead by his son Bruce, at Smith’s Creek, Murwillumbah, following a family quarrel, another soil, Alexander, stated in evidence that deceased used to threaten to blow the family’s brains out. He gave instances of acts of cruelty by his father to members of the family.

The Coroner said that although the evidence showed that deceased was a remarkably cruel man, and became practically a maniac when under the influence of liquor, he could not deline accused’s action as anything other than murder. lie committed him for trial.

“This practice of nominating a whole string 1 of vice presidents without reference to them, simply in the hope of getting a donation out of them is like painting names on a jam tin —it’s an honour neither to them nor to the club,” said a member of the Hamilton Kennel Club.

A middle-aged woman, Mrs Lilian Castleton, employed as housekeeper by Mr. Masters, a farmer of Eureka, Hamilton, was engaged in washing when flames from the copper tire ignited her clothes. There was no one about at the time. The unfortunate women endeavoured to put out the flames by rolling on the grass, but did not succeed until kerclothes were burnt to cinders. She managed to make her way into the house, but was .not discovered for an hour. She was removed to the hospital, "where sire lies in a serious condition.