DOCTOR SHOT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 272, 14 May 1912, Page 8

DOCTOR SHOT.

FitENzrrn vixer keeps tiie POLICE AT HAY. London, March 23. Am extraordinary shooting tragedy, which aroused great excitement in the towijl, occurred in Castleford, near Leeds, on Monday aftwnoon. At No. 10 Nicholson street lived Mrs. .lane Luinb (Go) and her son, George Lumb, a miner, 3G years of age, and the central figure in the tragedy. His mother for some time past had been in illhealth, and had been attended by Dr. Savile Bentley, assistant to Dr. G. B. Hiliman. On Monday afternoon Dr. Bentley went to visit his patient shortly after 2 o'clock. He was preceded up the stairs, it is stated, by Mrs. Speight, a daughter of Mrs. Lumb, and had almost readied the landing when George Lunib, who was at the top of the stairs, , met him, and without saying anything, fired at him. The shot struck the doctor in the chest, and he turned and fled. He was able to get into his trap and be driven to the surgery. Here he was examined by Dr. Twist and Dr. Hillman, but they were unable to locate the bullet, and lie was conveyed to the Leeds Infirmary, and subsequently removed to a nursing home in the city. POLICE AT BAY. The police were quickly summoned, and some half-a-dozen officers gained admittance to the house, but for two hours oi more they could not effect the arrest of Lumb. He had secured the doors of the bedrooms, and, knowing that he had command of the stairs with a revolver in his possession, it was of no use for the police to face him, and the tragedy which followed could hardly have been foreseen by the authorities. The police remained in the room below for a considerable time, and it was as well they did so, or injury, perhaps fatal to some of them, must have come.

Lumb appeared at the windows of the two bedVooms from time to time. From these lie kept the crowd at a respectful distance; indeed, those interested in his movements had no option but to seek safety, for he was gesticulating, revolver in hand. The officers in the lower room of the house were comparatively safe from the weapon, because he made no attempt to come down the stairs and attack them; but, of course, great anxiety was felt for the position of his mother, although there was no reason to believe that he would make an attack upon her. Once lie fired down the stairs, and there was no knowing how long his ammunition would last.

At last a large piece of sheet iron was obtained, and this was made into a shield. Inspector Stafford, covering 'his body with the improvised protection, made his way up the staircase, followed j by several of his subordinates. As they advanced, Lumb retreated, and seeing that the police with the protection of the shield were unlikely to be affected by his fire, he retired, was secured, and , taken into custody. MURDERED HIS MOTHER.

But the saddest part'of the affair had yet to come to light. Having secured their prisoner, the police proceeded to make an investigation, and found Mrs. Lumb lying dead in her room. It vras thought at first that the shock, following on her ill-health, might have been the cause of death. Dr. Hillinan was hastily summoned. A very brief examimation divulged the fact'that she had been shot through the head, and 'the only theory is that her son shot her in his frenzy. Dr. Savile Bentley is reported to be progressing favorably. It is stated that he had on Saturday remarked on the unclean and untidy character of the cottage, and this appeared to offend the woman's son, George Lumb, who during the strike 'had been out of work.

Enquiries at Leeds on Wednesday as to the condition of Dr. Savile Bentley show that the bullet is eitll embedded in the chest. The patient is in a dangeorus state, septic trouble being feared. George Lumb was, at Castleford Police Court, remanded for a week on a charge of murdering his mother and attempting to murder Dr. Savile Bentley. Superintendent Ackroyd stated thwt the doctor's condition was dangerous.