QUEENSLAND.

Southland Times, Issue 1220, 8 March 1870, Page 3

QUEENSLAND.

Brisbane, Feb. 21. Prendergast has been committed for trial for the murder of Hartnell, whose body was found in the river sunk with weights. The prisoner's wife was discharged, as the bench did not think the evidence made out a primd facie case against her. She was, however, cautioned that she might be brought up again should any other evidence transpire. Feb;26. Parliament meets on April 26. Heavy rains have fallen throughout the north-western districts, and the creeks are higher than they have been for the last six years. The Express contains the following • — " Toowoomba, February 14. — A frightful murder was committed on Saturday morning last, at a place known as the Cedar Scrub, near Highfields, 30 miles from Toowoomba. At this place, a fc about 10 o'clock in the morning, a German, commonly known as Alec, but whose name is Helrich, shot dead another German, named Michael Klein. Klein was an exceedingly industrious colonist, was married, and had a family of seven children. It would appear that Helrich considered that he had a prescriptive right to the cedar in the scrub. Klein went there last week to cut some cedar, and felled some trees ; and on Saturday morning he proceeded again to the scrub with a bullock leanij with which he had

Commenced to draw away the logs,* when Helrich cairie up to him, fired at him -, and shot hi;n through the heart. Death was instantaneous. When the murdered threatened to shoot Klein, the deceased caught hold of the barrel of the grin, upon which Helrich immediately pulled the" trigger arid shot Klein through the heart; A post-mortem examination has revealed the fact that Klein's heart was quite shattered, and chat the ball passed Out through his shoulder. Aftgr committing the deed the Murderer went to a placd where a brother of the deceased was sawing timber, but said nothing to him respecting what he had done. He merely inquire! for another man, whom, it is presumed, he also contemplated shooting. Up tb the present time he has bafihd all the efforts of the police td effect his capture. The scrub where he is supposed to be" cbncealei is vdry dense, and ha knows it well, having lived close by it for v six years." [A. reward of £300 has beeit offered by the Queensland G-ovdrnmenfc for the apprehension of the murderer.]