FARM TRAGEDY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 7 January 1931, Page 5

FARM TRAGEDY

WOMAN SHOT DEAD MAN UNDER ARREST (By Telegraph -Press Association) TAUMARUNUI, This Day. Mrs Alice Anderson, married, was shot dead on McFarlane’s farm about- four miles from National Park railway station at mid-day yesterday. The first news of the tragedy was given when a 15-year-old boy arrived on horseback at National Park railway station and informed John Luhrs, at the station, that a man named Charles Colston was chasing his (Colston’s) daughter with a gun at McFarlane’s farm, and had already ftred four or five shots. The boy also stated that Mrs Anderson was trying to take the gun from Colston. Luhrs immediately telephoned the police for assistance. The officers at Raurimu and Taumarunui, however, were out on duty, so he rang up the gaoler, Glynn at Waikune prison camp, and asked him if he could dc anything. On arrival at National Park station Glynn saw a man making toward the station. He stopped him and asked him his name. The man replied that he was Colston.. Glynn and Warder Allen then closed with Colston, handcuffed him and placed him under arrest. Colston said Mrs Anderson had been shot, and they wanted a doctor. Glynn then got in touch with the police doctor. In the meantime Glynn got two young men from the railway station, Johns and Herron, to go out to McFarlane’s farm, where they found Mrs Anderson lying at the house apparently dead They set off back to National Park with the body, and on the way met the doctor, who examined the woman and found that she was dead. The body was then conveyed to the station. It appears that Mrs Anderson was shot in the head, as pellets from a shotgun were scattered over her face. Possibly some entered her eyes and pierced the brain, causing death. _ At the time Colston was intercepted by Glynn he had just alighted from Mrs Anderson’s car, which at the time was being driven by his wife. He was making his way toward the station. About a fortnight ago Mrs Anderson drove the Colston family in her car from Wanganui, and they all settled together in his house at McFarlane’s farm, which was unoccupied at the time. Colston, who is now in the cells at Taumarunui police station, is aged about 38 years. He is .a boilermaker. He married Mrs Anderson s sister. The deceased woman was about 4t> years of age. Her body was brought to Taumarunui last night. It is impossible at the present juncture to say how or when Mrs Anderson was shot, beyond tlie fact that it occurred after the boy went for assistance.

COLSTON CHARGED WITH MURDER REMANDED TO AUCKLAND TAUMARUNUI, This Day. Detective Walsh left Wanganui at 3.30 yesterday afternoon and arrived at National Park at seven last evening. He was met by Sergeant Sivyer, of Taumarunui and immediately made furthei inquiries regarding the death of Mrs Anderson. Detective Walsh then came to Taumarunui arriving here at three this morning. , , . Charles Colston was charged betoro Mr J. Maher, J.P., at the Police Court this morning with the murder of Alice Anderson. . Detective Walsh asked for a remand to Auckland to January 16th and this was granted. - The police are unable to give any details regarding what happened on the farm after the boy went for assistance.

INQUEST OPENED ADJOURNED SINE DIE TAUMARUNUI, This Day. An inquest on Mrs Anderson opened before Mr J. Maher, J.P., and a jury at one o’clock to-day. The first witness called at first gave her name as Mrs Colston and then commenced to weep and said: “My name is Lillian Edith Tolley. I api a married woman living apart from my husband.” The witness then gave evidence, blie identified the body as that of her sister Alice Rose Florence Anderson. The deceased was a widow, aged 35 years. The inquest .was adjourned sine die.