ERSKINEVILLE SHOOTING CASE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 17, 18 January 1913, Page 7

ERSKINEVILLE SHOOTING CASE.

THE SURVIVOR’S STORY

Sydney, January - 10,

•At the inquiry into the Erskineville shooting affair concerning the death of Robert Knight (19), motor mechanic, which occurred at M'Donaldetreet, Erskineville, on January 2, as the result of a bullet wound in the head, Senior-sergeant M‘Donald, of Newtown, stated that early in the afternoon of January 2 he was called to a house at the corner of Regent street and M‘Donaid street, Erskincville, where he saw Knight lying on the dining-room floor, bleeding from a bullet wound in the head. He was still alive, but died on being placed in the ambulance. Witness saw a woman, Mary Walker, at the house. She was suffering from an open wound in the left side of the neck. She was taken to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. There was a lot of blood on the floor, and a revolver, containing two discharged cartridges, was found beside Knight. Mary Elsie Walker stated that she was living at Mrs Charles Header’s house, in M'Donald street, Erskineville.

The Coroner: Were you, keeping company with the deceased ?-—Yes. For how long?—Two years. Just before the recent holidays I arranged to come to Sydney from Melbourne. Deceased said he would come also. We arrived on December 22. I went to live with my aunt, and he at George street, Erskineville. Owing to something I found out I broke off the engagement on the 2nd instant. He came down to the house, and I gave him back the ring. Ho said: “If you don’t marry me, you will never marry anyone else.” He called Mrs Meader into the room, and said: “What do you think of this, auntie?’ She said she would have nothing to do in it. He went out,

and at the door said: “Will you come and see me off to-night?” I replied: “Certainly, I will.” “I’ll be back in one hour,” he remarked. He returned in a little over an hour, and we sat down on a sofa. We were talking, and Mrs Meader was in the room ironing. Knight said: “You had better do your ironing, too.” Mrs Meader went out of the room, and I started ironing. He just put his hand On my left shoulder, and said: “If you don’t have me, you’ll have no one else.’ Then 1 felt something like a smack and fell to the ground. I then heard a report, but did not see Knight fall. Mrs Charles Meader said she hoard a snap and a thud, and on entering the room saw Miss Walker on the floor. Before she got to her deceased fell.

The coroner returned a verdict of suicide.