FATAL REVOLVER ACCIDENT.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1132, 31 December 1883, Page 3

FATAL REVOLVER ACCIDENT.

A shocking tragedy occurred at OlHffe’s Park Hotel, Sydney, on December 6, At about half-past two o’clock a man servant at the hotel, named Erasmus Eular, was in charge of the bar. A stranger came in and asked to have two boxes, then in his possession, taken care of for a time, -The boxes were deposited on a shelf behind the bar. Shortly afterwards the barmaid, Norah Costello, came jo and took her accustomed place. The stranger then asked for the boxes, and having received them, opened one and exhibited a pistol. Eular said it was a handsome weapon. He replied “Yes, I intend it as a present for my f nephew in Bathurst," Some few more commonplace remarks passed, and the man proceeded to load the weapon.;' You should not dp that,” said Eular ;it is dangerous*. “No fear,” replied the stranger, there are no caps. He appeared to have loaded three chambers, and was about placing a cartridge in the fourth when the charge exploded. The poor girt was heard to exclaim i-.Ens, Bus,” the name by which Erasmus was familiarly known, and fell behind the bar. The man Erasmus went instantly to her aid, raised her, and saw that blood was flowing from her mouth. With some assistance he carried her into the Earlor, where it was found that the bullet ad entered ' her right breast, causing almost instantaneous dearth This evidence is irilhe main corroborated by a nursegirl named Minnie Purcell, who was in the bar • at;the time, but, singularly enough, neither seems to have paid any attention to the author of the tragedy. > After the shot ‘.was fired ho mode of, ’but was soon captured and committed for (rial on a charge of manslaughter. ,His name was Coon an. The unfortunate girl was about twenty-two, and had been acting as barmaid for sixteen months. She was well known in the city, and a few weeks ago performed an act of bravery when an attempt was made to rob the till in the bar of the hotel. The deceased observed a man in the act of committing the theft, immediately seized bold of him, and notwithstanding that he abused her in a brutal manner, she succeded in detaining him until assistance arrived, and the thief was taken into custody. The deceased never spoke after the fetal shot was fired.