MURDER AND BURGLARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 196, 8 January 1913, Page 5

MURDER AND BURGLARY.

SHOT IN FRONT OF lIIS WIFE. By Cable—Press Association --Copyright. Received January 7, 8.1.") p.m. Melbourne, January 7. Two 'burglars entered the bedroom of Mr. Trotter, chief collector at MacRobert and Sons confectioner's store. They shot Trotter in the presence of his wife, and secured £2OO.

- A CALLOUS CRIME. Received January 7, 10.10 p.m. Melbourne, January 7. > Mrs. Trotter tells a sensational storv. She says that her husband she and a five-year-old child were awakened at two in the morning by the flash of an electric light. Two masked men were covering them with revolvers and demanding money. Trotter declared that he had none. The men replied that they knew he had and threatened to shaat him. telling bis wife that she would not be hurt and that tliev only wanted money. She thought 'it was. only a joke and told her husband that tne men were phfying a game. Trotter reiterated that the only mom;v he had belonged to his employers. 'lie then jumped out of bed and struck and struggled with one of the robbers. The second robber placed a revolver at Trotter s head and fired. He went and turned up the mattress where the money was usually kept, and took a bag containing £SS in cash and ,£llß in cheques. Trotter s takings on the previous dav.

1 he, robbers entered by forcing a window, and propped open the doors to ■make their outlet easy. They escaped and the police are without a clue.

The robbers were apparently well acquainted with Trotters habits, and chose a day when the takings were unusually heavy. They knew where he kept bis money and the position of the electric light. Trotter had a frightful wound lin the forehead, and died in three hours.

A DESPERATE STRUGGLE. DON'T SIIOOT DADDY." Received January S, 12.55 a.m. Melbourne, January 7. The Trotters lived in a villa at Fitzrov. Trotter had just returned from a holiday and stayed downstairs late at night counting his money. He was apparently watched. His wife at. tempted to reach a window and give the alarm, but was debarred by a pointed revolver. She appealed to her husband to give up the money and .save his life, but lie firmly refused. She then appealed to the robbers not to shoot her child, who also asked them not to shoot "Daddy." Trotter was a strong man, in the prime of life, and was getting the better of the robbers when he was shot. Finger prints have been secured.