THE MELBOURNE OPERA HOUSE TRAGEDY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2304, 5 August 1880, Page 2

THE MELBOURNE OPERA HOUSE TRAGEDY.

(From the ‘' Argus ” July 26.) A PAXIC-STRICKEX AUIJIEXCE. A terrible scene occurred in the dress circle of the Opera House, on Saturday night. Mr J. J. Macgregor Greer, a young gentleman who only lauded in the colony a few days ago, shot his wife and Mons. A. L. Soudry, one of the members of the French. Exhibition Commission, appointed in connection with the Melbourne Exhibition, and then attempted to take his own life. He was seated beside his wife during the evening, and when the curtain fell, at the close of the fourth act,M. Soudry took a seat next to Mrs Greer. M. Soudry had scarcely sat down when Greer drew a revolver, and lired two shots in rapid succession, the first at M. Soudry, and the second at Mrs Greer. A third shot was fired, the pistol this time being aimed at Mons. Gorges Burk a friend of M. Soudry, who was seated in the chairs at the back of the circle. The shot missed its mark, and Greer then rushed along the gangway. Putting the pistol to his ear as he ran, ho fired a fourth shot into his own head, and fell on the floor, about ten paces from the spot where the others dropped. These were the main facts of the occurrence, but some time elapsed before this short narrative could be obtained, for a panic took place in the crowded dress circle, and men and women fled from the house in a state of mad excitement. There was, as is not unusual on Saturday night, a full attendance in all parts of the theatre, and every seat in. the dress circle was occupied. The curtain had only fallen a minute or two at the end of the fourth act, about a quarter to il o’clock, and a good number of gentlemen had left their places for the vestibule and the refreshment rooms, when suddenly two sharp cracks were heard, followed by a third and fourth. For an instant it was supposed the explosions had taken place on the stage, because in the last act firearms had to be used, one or two might have gone off. The screams of the women and the rush for the doers, however, showed that a real tragedy had commenced amongst the audience. The

common impression, except in the immediate neighbourhood of the scene, was that a madman had begun to fire recklessly at the people round about him. Hence the rush pell-mell for the door. One man bounded over the high seat at the back of the dress-circle as well as over the chairs on the temporary bench, and hurried to the entrance. The ladies hastened out of their seats, and fell over one another on the carpet; at one moment three lay on the top of one another, and with difficulty could be raised to their feet. Others tumbled over chairs and screamed hysterically. Few had the coolness to keep their places, until the cause of the mischief fell helplessly between the back seats and one o*; the sofas, where two gentlemen held him down. The revolver got thrown under the sofa. Meantime the lady and gentleman fired at had also fallen ; the lady hiy stretched out on the seat, and the gentleman disappeared between the benches. Two or three rows of seats had become deserted, and for a moment or two no one had the presence of mind to go forward and see what help the wounded required. Those who wanted to get in were kept back by others eager to escape. One lady had clambered over into the Melbourne Club box, and others had run out through the stake door. INCIDENTS OF THE AFFRAY. Mr Greer and his wife had places on the right-hand side of the dress circle in the section next but one to the club box. They were in the back row, and Mrs Greer next the gangway. The actions of botli husband and wife had attracted the notice of many. Most of the time Mr Greer had his ey-es turned towards the middle of the circle, and one lad 3’ seated in the chairs, at whom he appeared to direct his gaze felt quite nervous. His attention was really'’ directed at somebody else, or at the quarter in which he expected that somebody to appear—M. Sondry. Mrs Greer appeared to pay little attention to the performances, and likewise bad her eyes directed towards the same place. This was remarked by a gentleman who stood a few paces behind the scat. From the facts we have collected, it seems evident that Mrs Greer had been unfaithful to her husband, that M. Sundry and she had been improperly’ intimate, that the husband knew it, that he became frenzied when he found the two together, and tried to kill them both. M.

Sonclry, whose appearance in the theatre was not noticed until just before passed from the middle of the dress circle as soon as the curtain fell. It is not curtain where Mr Greer was at the time—whether in Ins scat or in the passage behind it. lie must have been near at hand, however. First M. Soudry and then his wife wore Fired at. The shots followed one another rapidly. Then he started hastily along the passage. The third shot appears to have been aimed at M. Ihirk, who was seated in one of the chairs, and must have came nn dor Mr G recr’s notice as lie went along. On this point, however, the independent evidence is not definite. Certainly four of the chambers of the revolver were afterwards fmmd empty, and something like a bullet struck the wall. Two or three paces further on Mr Greer put the revolver to his own head. Two or three jmrds further on he stumbled over the sofa, lie was stopped and seized by Dr Dird, of Collins street, to whose assistance came air F. T’>. Simmons of the “ Daily Telegraph.” Mr Simmons was not in the house when the affair began, hut ran in as soon as lie hoard the first two shots. On ids way round one of the frightened heroes in the dress circle ■jumped down upon him, and pitched him against the sofa by the door. Mr Simmons took Mr Greer by the right hand as he lay on the floor. Mr Greer had the revolver (a bright nickel-plated weapon firmly) in his grasp, and did not let it go for an instant or two. It then rolled unnoticed under the sofa. Other gentlemen came up. Dr Lempricrc, Sir Dolan, inspector-general of the Education department, Dr Dyan and several more helped to carry the disabled man out into the vestibule. He had already lost a quantity of blood from the wound in the head, and a broad patch of carpet where ho fell was covered with it. Outside he said he wauted no doctor, hut a glass of water. Then he fainted. In the meantime Mrs Greer and M. Soudry had been attended to. The lad}', when raised up, showed a deep wound near the right ear, and had blood about her mouth. The shot seemed to have entered at the side and gone out through the cheek. There was blood on the seat where she fell. She was taken up and carried out in an almost senseless state. M. Soudry, when brought to his feet, was found to be the least iivjured of all the party. Some persons excitedly asked who he was. His only reply was “ I am very weak.” He walked out, with the assistance of two gentlemen. The three were then removed to the Hospital. EXCITE.M ENT IX THIS ST UK ET. The excitement lasted for a considerable time. Scarcely anybody could ascertain what had happened, or who were concerned in the tragedy. Threefourths of the dress circle audience left the house, the vestibule and cloak were blocked, and, to add to the throng, people began to rush upstairs from the street and the stalls. An end was, however, put to the panic as soon as Mr Greer tell into safe hands. The ladies who still stayed in the house mounted the scats and looked round excitedly. Several who had fainted or become hysterical were taken out. About 20 or 30, not more, had the presence of mind to resume their places and attend to the last act of the opera. To quell the excitement, the orchestra fell to work us quickly us possible. The act was a short one. In the last scene several shots had to be fired, and the noise of the explosion produced a sort of panic in the vestibule. Several ladies rushed down stairs blindly, but no one was harmed. For some time the approaches to the Iheare were blocked, and for the next hour Donrke street and Swanstou street were crowded by scattered groups of talkers and listeners. Air Greer is a fresh, broad-shouldered man. His age is not exactly known, some statements giving it as 24, and others 27. Ho and his wife landed from the Garonne on July 18. They were second-class passengers, but M. Soudry was in the saloon with other members of the French Commission. OREKB’S AXTECEDENTS.

Mr J. J. Maegregor Greer, who was bom at Spriu"tied, near Coleraine, county of Deny, was the sou of the Eov A. Greer, of the Presbyterian Church, and nephew of Mr S. M'Curdy Greer, recorder of the city of Derry. He had held some banking appointment at home, and came to Melbourne M'ith good recommendations. His wife is stated

to bo of French, extraction, and was brought up iu Bristol. Of AL Soudry we learn that be has held several positions of trust under the French Government. He was on the French Commission at the Philadelphia Exhibition, and on the similar Commission at the Sydney Exhibition. He came to Melbourne as one of the Commissioners foU France. His version of the affair has not yet been given. All the public know is that Mrs Greer appears to have had an unfortunate attachment for him M. Soundry is about 32 or-35 years of age.

A passenger by the Garonne gives us the following information concerning the relation between the parties on board the Garonne:— ruined by A FLIRT. “ Mr Greer is 21 years of age, and has an expression of rather greater juvenility. His countenance is well favored by nature, and would be pronounced handsome, some would even be disposed to say intellectual, were it not for the dull expression of the 03ms, and the heavy formation of the under portion of the face. In disposition he was kind hearted to nearly all, most affectionate to his wife, but conceited and self-opinionated. Mrs Greer, although not considered pretty, was prepossessing, charmingly vivacious in her manner, and certainly «■ let Francaise in her conversation. The Garonne left Plymouth on May 29. M. Soudry was a lirst-class passenger, Mr and Mrs Greer and child being in the second saloon. During the first week nothing of any consequence transpired on hoard. M. Soudry remained very exclusive in company with a friend. Airs Greer was too unwell even to ajipcar frequently on deck. In the following week Mrs Greer entered upon a flirtation with one of the passengers, that, although innocent in the extreme, drew upon her the censure of several of her lady friends, and ultimately occasioned a serious misunderstanding with her husband. In a conversation arising out of this affair she told a gentleman on board that she had not lived the most felicitous married life, having been separated from her husband on more than one occasion. Moreover, in expressing herself as to the mental endowments of Mr Greer, she spoke in the most contemptuous manner, not unfrequently referring to him as a ‘ booby,” and never mentioning him but with seriocomic pity, as ‘ Poor Jack.’ Mrs Greer at an early stage of the acquaintanceship asked M. Soudry to lend her the wicker-work chair he used on deck, a request which no Frenchman could refuse to a lady. An intimacy sprang up. Day after day Mrs Greer would have long conversations, sometimes in whispers, sometimes aloud, with M. Soudry, seldom in English, nearly always in French. Mr Greer, who understood not a syllabic of the latter language, would remain close by smoking, occasionally gratified by a passing attention, until wearied out be would saunter down to the quarters of the engineer. The weak intellect of Air Greer was satisfied by the distinction shown to him in being permitted to associate with a man in the position of M. Soudry. The intimacy between Sirs Greer and M. Soudry became the subject of general remark amongst the passengers, some of whom went so far as to speak to Mr Greer on the subject. Ho, however, made light of the matter, saying that his wife had discovered that M. Soudry was a cousin, ami that she had met him before. At Cape Town the three formed a party on shore together, and held themselves exclusive from all other acquaintances. Shortly after this it became apparent that the confidence of Mr Greer had received a shock, for he almost entirely estranged himself from their company, acquired a disconsolate appearance and almost entirely eschewed companionship and conversation. It was at this stage that in conversation with the writer, when ho was partially tipsy, he stated, almost in a sort of soliloquy, that he would ‘ get rid of her in Melbourne.’ These facts will be sustained by every passenger on board. The writer is not surprised, but only shocked, at the sequel.”