TRAGEDY IN TIMARU.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3613, 28 October 1920, Page 4

TRAGEDY IN TIMARU.

YOUTH SHOT BY BURGLAR. i TIMAEU, Oct. 27. i . A murder occurred to-night in Nel--1 son Terrace. A youth named Clarence Wagstaff, whose father is employed at Ballantynei’s, was sleeping in a tent near the house. A friend who stayed with' him returned from the pictures, and while undressing saw a man prowling round the house. He awoke Wagstaff and both went t(7 see who it was, going different ways around the house. Wagstaff met the man and caught hold of him, but the latter broke away. He fired three shots, one of which hit the youth in the left breast. The man got away. Wagstaff was removed to the hospital. Where he died an. hour later. The culprit Is unknown.

FURTHER DETAJLS. TIMARTJ, This flay. After young Wagstaff and his friend Were awakened by footsteps oxietide, they made investigations and saw the crouching figure of a man. They planned to intercept the intruder, think-* ing that his aim was* to secure the keys of Ballantyne’s premises, which were uually kept by Wagstaff, sent. On being the would-be burglar fled, and Wagstaff and his frlenfl gave, chase. Wagstaff overhauled the fugitive who however broke away, with deceased and his friend in hbf pursuit. tlic intruder then turned round aud fired three shots at point blank range. Wagstaff dropped 1 . Moms oozing from a wound on his- ’ left breast. Deceased soon lapsed into Unconsciousness, but before doing •seta said to the police: “We saw a man and chased him, and he turned round*” and fired at me.” Tho wound proved fatal shortly after midnight... / There is no trace so far as to the murderer.