TRAGIC MISTAKE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 109, 30 December 1931, Page 5

TRAGIC MISTAKE

(Press. Assn.-

shot HIS CHUM BANK QFFICER ENTERING WINDOW SHOT BY FRIEND SERIES OF MISCONCEPTIONS

— By Telegraph — Copyrlght).

FIELDING, Tuesday. Bruce McCorkindale aged 22 an ofiicer of the Bank of New Zealand here, lost his life last night in tragic circumstances, being shot by J. L. Burton, a fellow officer of tbe bank. Burton usually slept on the premises, but he had been away for several days, McCorkindale taking his plac-e. Burton was due back last night, and McCorkindale went to thebank premises to make sure Burton had returned, but could get no response to his knocking. McCorkindale then tried to enter the bank by a rear window of the sleeping room. Burton was awakened by the opening of the window, and he fired twice. Constable Johnston, on duty near the bank, rushed over and found that a tragic mistake had been made. McCorkindale died within a few minutes. Burton explained that he had heard no noise until he was roused by the window being opened. He thought it was a burglar, and he fired twice. The tragedy is made worse by the fact that Burton and McCorkindale were close friends. Pulling Down Window. Mr Burton, who fired the fatal shot, had been acting teller at the bank and usually slept on the premises. He has been in the local bank for some four years and is about 25 years old. He had gone to Opunake for his holidays, arranging that Mr. McCorkindale to sleep at the bank in his place. He returned, as arranged, last night, but did not think it necessary to inform Mr. McCorkindale, who telephoned the bank at 9.45 p.m. but Mr. Burton did not reach there until 10 p.m., and therefore missed the call.

Mr. McCorkindale searched for the door key at the secret hiding place arranged and could not find it, and got no response to his door knock. Probably his bedroom is unstairs. He made inquires in town with a view to ascertaining if Mr. Burton had returned, but learned nothing, and concluded that he had not, and it was therefore his, Mr. McCorkindale's duty to sleep on the premises. Mr McCorkindale was pulling down a window, when the noise awakened Mr. Burton, who took his revolver and fired at the window. He did not know the effect of his shot until a policeman, rushing up the alleyway informed him. He found to his horror that he had killed his chum. Mr. Burton, whose parents reside at Opunake, was appointed to the Feilding branch four years ago. He was a ledger keeper. Mr. Corkindale joined the bank at Foxton, and was afterwards at Woodville and Feilding. He is also a ledger keeper. Mr. Burton is showing to-day the affects of his experiences. He and the victim were the closest of friends.