SUPPOSED MURDER AT NELSON.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 990, 29 January 1883, Page 3

SUPPOSED MURDER AT NELSON.

(per press association.) NELSON, Jan. 26. It is reported that a case of murder has occurred at Hape Valley, Nelson, Wnknpuaka. A man named Fuller had laid an information against one Thompson for threatening to “do for him.'’ This morning Fuller was found shot. No more particulars are to hand yet. WELLINGTON, Jan. 26. There is virtually no doubt remaining now that this rumoured case of murder is simply one of suicide. John Fuller, a man of about 48 years of age, gave information two days ago that be had been assaulted and considerably knocked about by a man named Thompson, and he also laid an information that Thompson had threatened to “do for him,” unless he paid £4, the value of a dog which had belonged to Thompson, and which he had shot for worrying sheep. On Fuller being found dead it was thought Thompson had carried out his threat, and it is stated now that Thompson has fled in fear. However, the whole of the circumstances conclusively show that Fuller shot himself. He left his home at 5 o’clock this morning to look after cows, taking with him a gun. Later in the morning his wile became alarmed, and sent her niece in search. The girl ultimately found Fuller in a clump of manuka, shot dead. A careful inspection of the ground shows no trace of a struggle, and it is evident that Fuller lay down with his gun under one arm, having first tied a piece of flax to the trigger, and- having, passed some flax round the stock, he placed the gun to the centre of his forehead, and palled the flax. Death followed, without a struggle, and a quantity of the brain was found on the grass below the wound. The inquest takes place to-morrow.