GHASTLY TRAGEDY AT SURBITON.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 311, 27 October 1888, Page 4

GHASTLY TRAGEDY AT SURBITON.

Murder and Suicide. Loxdon, September 7. Oxk of the best-known residents of fcho pretty ripaiian suburb of Surbicon was till a week ago Major Thomas Hare, a retired military officer of nearly three score years and ten, who lived with his invalid wife and two grown-up sons in a comfortable house in the St. James's Road. The family Avere generally respected and liked for their quiet und unostentatious mode of living and kindly hospitality. There wore four sons altogether. Two, as 1 have said, lived at home, and one, the eldest, was serving with his regiment in India. The second son, Gordon Hare, resided in London on an allowance of a pound a week, and was understood by tho neighbours to be the black sheep of the family. On Sunday week, after evening church, this young man made one of his periodical visits to St. James's Koad. lie met his aged father coming homo from service, and, addressing him angrily as " Major Hare," shot him dead on his own doorstep, immediately afterwards blowing his own brains out. The "Echo"' says: "For many years Got don Hare had led a roving, unsettled life in distant paits of the world, and on each return home had pestered his father for a maintenance. This was affouled to him aeain and again ; and on several occasions he had been sent abroad, but always returned after the lapse of a year or two, and renewed his importunities, accompanied with threats, and on some occasions open violence.

Squandered Thousands of Pounds. As already mentioned, Major Hare had for several 3 ears gone in bodily fear of bis bon. In November, 18S5, the persecution of the latter became so intolerable that his father charged him on a warrant for his threats. The statement oE the father on that occasion Mas to the eflecc that, during the previous five or six year-*, his sou had spent several thousands of pounds, and had been a source of persecution to him and other members of his family.

Ke Would Blow Out Hie Father's Brains. In 18S5. only two days before Cordon Hare appeared before the Magistiate&, he went to 13, St. James's Road, and threatened to put a bullet through his father's, brain. Prisoner's defence was that he went to see his mother. He admitted that he was excited ab the time, and said that if his father did not find him em ploy 'rent ho would have to go to the workhouse or blow out his own brains and his father's too. In default of finding sureties ho was imprisoned for three months, and when he was released it is alleged that he lepeated the threat towards his father. When arrested on the occasion referred to a revolver was found on him, and he used O omo violence towards the police. At the inquest on Tuesd,.) ias-t, Mi'Maynai'd Hare said the deceased was his brother. Gordon Horace Haie, and was 33 years of age. Whac occupation was he ? Had he pursued any ? — I cannot &ay that he had. He was sent out to America when I was quite a little boy to attend to farming. When did he last see your fathei?— On Friday night. My brother was then residing at 33, Burlington Road, Bayswater. On Friday I saw him and tried to avoid him. But I did speak to him. He mentioned then, in London, mat he was coming to Surbiton. On Saturday I saw my brother again at my office, rle &aid, 'It is a matter of life or death,' but made no threats.

The Son's Character. Did you know he carried a ievolvevV — He showed me some levolver cartridges on Fiiday— as a threat, T f-hould think. He was quite sober. Had he been accustomed to take too much to drink ? — Oh, no ! He was of an excitable temperament, especially on this one subject. What subject? — His supposed wrung 1 . He thought everyone should impoverish himself For him, and that his mother ought to supply him with money. He was bound over at the Police Court some time ago. Has he since that time come to the house ? — Frequently. He was always violent. You don't know whether lie was at the > house on Saturday evening ? — No, he was not. Mr M. Hare (continuing) said that on Friday night his brother came to the house, and his father led him down the steps and i said, '• Yon a*e trespassing here.' Witness's brother lcplied, "I don't care for you and your police. ' There was no scuttle on Friday, as fu* as witness know. On one subject witness's brother was a monomaniac — as regaida his own troubles and money.

Gordon Hare s Weeltly Allowance. | A juryman: Whafc was he allowed? — He was allowed <* guinea a week. We got him into an oflice, bub he lost the situation, ily bi other told me that he was obliged to | take a stimulating draught, as he could not sleep. He told me on Friday that he «?ot five hours' sleep by swallowing a draught ; but then he took half the bottle, and the chemist said to him, 'If you go on ike that I shall have to get someone to ook after you.' The Coroner : That was for nervous debility or something of that sort ? — Yes.

The Sunday Evening's Visit. Martha Hodsall, housemaid afc 13, St. J James's Road, said she knew Gordon Hare, ! and had orders from her master and mistress not to admit him. She did not see him on Friday night when he called. 'On ' Sunday evening I saw him at a quarter past seven,' she contiuned. ' I looked through the hall window, but as I &aw who it was I did not open the door, but informed my mistress. lie was very quiet : tried the back door, which was also closed, and then returned and stopped in the porch afc the front door. I was looking out of the top window then.' Your master had gone to church ? — Yes. Mr Gordon Hare walked up and down in front of the house, and then came back again. What time did the Major return from church ?— About ten minutes to eight. I heard the son call out, ' Major Hare !' as his father entered the pate. In an angry tone ?— Yes. Was there any answer to that?-— .No. Directly after 1 heard the report. Could you see the Major?— Yes. I did not hear bim call out. Then, when I ran' downstairs, I heard another report. I came down with Mrs Hare, who opened the door. Mr Gordon Hare was lying on the top of the steps. Were you frightened ?~-Oh, yes. Major , Hare was brought into the house. Did you see any smoke come from the portico after the shot ?— Yes, sir.

Nature of the Wounds. Dr, M. Owen Ccleman said he knew Major Hare personally, bub had never seen the son. On Sunday night witness was afc St. Mark's Church, where he saw the Major leave. Witness left shortly after, and was walking

down St. James's Road with a lady. He had just passed the Cottage Hospital, when he hoard a pistol report. When he got to the middle of the road ho saw a second flash, with an arm projecting from the porch of No. 13, and a hand holding a gun or revolver. Witness ran to the gale, thinking it was some person amusing himsolf, and shoiitcd, ' What are you making: that noise for ?' When he got to the gate he was conscious of something falling, and at once saw Major Have on the steps, lying with his back to the door. In the meantime witness called out 'Police! Police!' He examined Major Hare then, and found him bleeding profusely — dying, but gasping. He gave only a few gaspd and died. Witness then examined Gordon Hare — and found him dead — killed instantaneously. Did you find a revolver in the young man's hand ? — Yes, his hand was across his client, and was grasping the weapon. The bullet in Major Hare had gone in between the junction ot the left collar-bone and the breast, and had, presumably, ruptured the aorta. As to Gordon Hare — what injuries ?—? — The revolver had been placed in his mouth, the roof of which was blown away. The bullet was imbedded in the brain.

Gordon Hare's Possessions. Police-Constable Alfred Mitchoner said he saw the two bodies lying on the steps. He removed the revolver from Gordon Hare's right hand. The weapon ab that; time was loaded in three chambers. The revolver, of the bulldog pattern, vas produced, and handed round. Some lefctoifc. found on Gordon Hare's body were also produced, bub not read. They referred to applications made by the young man to different persons for money and other assistance. One gentleman, writing to the deceased, remarked, ' It is hopeless to recommend you.' The Coroner, in briefly summing up, observed that the less one said about the fearful tragedy the better.

The Verdict. After a short deliberation the jury found that Thomas Hare was wilfully murdered by his son, Gordon Hare. The Coroner — And Gordon Hare '! The Foreman — We find that, he committed filicide, and thai he was actually insane. The formal verdict to that effect was then Cfiven.