RELIEF WORKER SHOT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 186, 31 March 1932, Page 5

RELIEF WORKER SHOT

(Press. Assn.

murBer ALlIged

WIFE HEARS* skbT iikfeD AT DOOR OF HOME unemployfcd man charged "Six bours after he" was" ikot ih fhe a'hdornhh wneh he answered A cail hifc' tK'e door of kis cdftage uf TdindhdWk"'darly this' hidrhing, Fihdlay Doiiglai 'Ddchahan) a ydiih^ Iharrlfed riiafi; tliei ih tfife phblifc hoittital f rbrii' lils iiijuriSs. At the time of his death a yotiiig hiaiij LSiiis Williaiii b'Cbhtior, Wa s ilti - busfhdy ' bn d'-ciiai-ge^ df hffem^fceH' :hiilrdiii*) knd tb-day he WSs chafged witk hiurder. • Bdth" ' Ihe artedted - mkn hnd Buchanaft -v^ere " u'rifempldyed. Buchawari- Was* wbll knbWh hs a hbtfel •• erttfildyeh " sfeVeh months agd, Whtle D'Conttbrv Was employed until feCfeiifly ias a carter.

— By Telegraph— Copyright).

t . • . DUNEDIN; Wedhtesday: ToihahawKj a' sedside rfesbft, :neaf Duh'ediA, wks'the Scefie df a tragedy early tms;'fiibfnin^) 'Whfeh' MK "Fincdflay Douglas Buchahan, a inarried niaiij agbd •• 2 5| a relief' wbfker ■, WSs fataH^-'^h'ot*. Louis Winidm O'Cbntio^ a marfied liiafi livirig' at Andfefson'i Bay; was arrested bii a charge of murderi -i ^ • •• The policd were informbd at 1.40 this morning and the victim ■ of the tragedy was tak'eh to hbspital with severb stomach wounds, cauSed by a shotgUn) . fired at close range. He died at 7,45 a.m, 1 No motive for the alleged act is given at present, but it is Suggested that O'Connor had heen drinking. He appeared before the Court this morning (on a charge of murder, and was remandod until April 8: ; At Ahderson's Bay, Buchanan) his J wife arid young child had occiipied | a small cottage oh the main road ahout 209 yards above Giencairh's ; Hall for the past severi months, Buch- ■ ankn going to Tomahawk to reside \ when he hecame unemployed. He was ! at home all day yester day ahd Tetired for the night a little later than usuai, ab'out 11' o'clock, arid ari h'our and a quarter later was awakened hy loud khdcking on the frbnt dobr, and he admitted O'Connor, who showed signs of having heen drinking. At his request, O'Connor was giveri a cigarette 1 by Bttchanari, Who advised his visitot to leturn to his- own home as he had been away all day arid his - wife WaS probahly wbfrying -about him. No cross words were 'spoken and O'Cbnrior seemed to be in no dntagonistic mobd. After a few iminutes Stay; O'Connor left the cottage when he was asked by Buchariah to leave. No Wbrds Exchanged •The -household was disturbed half t an hour later by a knock on the front door. Buchanan went to the door, which opened into the room adjoining. Mrs Biichanatt, whb wdS awake, heard no words exchanged between the meh. Suddenly a shot rang out and the woman rushed through to the front room. There was no light there, but the room was illuminated by a light from thp. bedroom. Her husband was lying on the floor with a wound in his abdomen, and O'Connor was standing at the door with a gun in his hand. O'Connor rushed off the verandah.

Mrs Buchanan hurried to the house of a neighbour and her landlord, Mf. james Newton, to whom she exclaimed, tJHe has been shot." J The police were sent fbt aiid Buchanan, who was still eonscibtts was abl'e to iriake a statement. A search was made fcr O'Connor, and he ivas ai-rested at his horiie in Craristbri Strcbt hbbrit 4 . a.m. on a charge "df aiteiripteii mhfd'ef. O'Coririor was asleeji wheh the police arrived. ' Buchanan was removed to hbspital ; and died a few hours after ridmissiori. It is stated that O'Cbhhbr called at Mr. 1Y. J. Taber's stdre, rieai* Mr. Buchanan's horiie for lcigai*ettes, which weTe refhsed. He retufried/eVideritly;- after the tragedy, for his hammering on the door left blbodstains. Mr. Taber threat'ened to some oht to him, upon which O'Connor, it is alleg- ' ed, said: "Come on out. I'll fix you as well." ; Mr. Taber threatened to call the police and accused dropped ,a gun on ,the verandah and decamped.