THE BARRABA Tragedy.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 8, 26 May 1894, Page 7

THE BARRABA Tragedy.

At 1.30 p.r.'i •cn April 18, Mr TMTpKhv manager <■' the Commercial Bank at Ban.b* K.S.W.) was just finishing his dinner when he noticed two men entering the bank. The door of the b :.k vue left open, as a full view of the' premises can be obtained from the room. Re got up from the table, and on entering the bank closed the dining-room door leading to the bank, His wife, who had been very ill, was for the first time for a fortnight sitting at the table with him. Shortly after Mr McKay entered the bank his wife heard loud' and harsh words being exchanged, and it appeared as though Mr McKay was refusing something. All of a sudden a terrible struggle was heard, and shortly afterwards the report of a revolver followed. Mrs McKay, who had in the meantime got np, was trying to enter the bank by the dining-room door, but was unable to enter the door. She then cried loudly for help, and immediately after she did so a bulletsame through the door, which was svidently intended to silence her.

This bullet was soon followed by a second one. Mrs McKay then rnshed out of the house screaming- aloud, « Murder; Mr McKay is shot, and the bank is getting robbed.” While she was thus screaming, the murderers must have taken fright and decamped. Mrs McKay was covered with a revolver by one of the burglars while she was screaming on the verandah, jbut she did not take any heed of it. Immediately after she gave the alarm she again rushed inside, and then found the dining-room door leading to the bank open. She found on entering that her husband was lying ©n his back, with a bullet shot through his head, and he was just breathing his last. Help quickly arrived, and a resident of the town who happened to enter the premises soon after "the deed was done noticed a very large amount of cheques, notes, silver, and gold lying all over the table* but none had been taken. A large crowd entered the bank premises shortly after. This gentleman then locked up all the loose cash and valuables, and took possession of the keys. After this the bank room was cleared and closed up until the police, who were away on duty, arrived. In the meanwhile the fugitives were followed by a great many, but without any result, as the horses belonging to the outlaws were of an exceptionally good quality It [appeared that the murderers passed the police on the road and -went by quite unconcerned. As the police were met by the townspeople in pursuit they were told what occurred, and one of them immediately proceeded to the town to attend to everything, while the other joined the party in search of the fugitives. The revolver belonging to the bank was found fully loaded in a press in the office of the bank. Mr McKay, who leaves a widow and four children, "was the son of Mr

George McKay, J.P., . and was a comsin of Mr McKillOp, manager of the Carcoar Branch of the Commercial Bank. Two men named Cummins and Lee were arrested a few days after, the murder. The hearing’ of the charge against them was concluded on the.sth inst., and resulted in their being committed for trial.