A SUSPECTED BURGLAR. THE COROWA TRAGEDY.,

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 243, 25 February 1888, Page 8

A SUSPECTED BURGLAR. THE COROWA TRAGEDY.,

Sydney, February. 11. A shocking, tragedy was enacted in Corowsu last night afc about 11 o'clock. A\ man named Murdoch. M'Lean called at the house* of a family named O'Sullivan, and ; afctemptod to force- his way in by fclie- front door, first o£ all walking round the building with, his boots on, and afterwards with* them oft. A mail named Charles O'SuihV v*n, aged uibout 18, hi 3 mother, and a* little. girl weca. the only inmates. QJSullivan, it appeared lrom the evidencetaken, at the iuquest held by the coroner,. Mr Beverid&e,, at the Court-houso to-day* called out when the man knocked at thafront door, "Who are you? Don.' k come into the house, or I'll tire." HereoaiMed no. repljy, but tb.fi demands for admission continued.. Airs O'Sullivan then, hastily dressed, brought a lighted candle,, and in? cautiously unlocked the doon tos see> who was- tvhore. The man, who tunned out to be M'Lean, shoved the door oyeu. Mi's O'Sullivan feared vialouce,. aud screamed, while hec son^ Charles O'Sullivan, who was, standing; with a loaded gun about 4ft from, her, ficecU The shot struck M'Leanon the left golloih bone, shafcbftring it fearfully. M/Leaa fell on his and death resulted, aliaoafe ix&mediately. The screaming and . fittings broußhb tho neighbours to th» sceno,. when O'SullivAn narrated the ciucumstauccs. as detaiLe^ above, and at once delivered, himself over to the police. The jury fcorday returned the following- verdicc :«— " Wov&mJ Muvdoch, M'Lean met his deatkat the house of Mrs O'Sullivan, at Corowa pro per , on the night ot the lOtlk ot Fobvwai-y, 1888, from tthe cffecte. ©f a gunshot wound unlawfully inflicted by Charles O'Sullivan." The coroner aceopted the verdict as one of inanslaughtev\ and committed the prisoner accordingly bo take his trial at the Quarter Session^ to be balden afe Albuiy on the 18ch April next. Letters wem found, on M'Leaaa from his mother.and a sister named Belfa, bpfch living in Howesstreet, Auckland, New Zealand,, and from a female cousin iii Sydnby. Deoetised Was 35 years of age, ami was a blacksmith by trade. • • t -