GREYMOUTH TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 21, 15 June 1914, Page 3

GREYMOUTH TRAGEDY.

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND A SUICIDE. REJECTED SUITOR SHO'G'I9 ■ HIMSELF. ' Per Press Association. G'l'cymouth, Saturday. Greymouth is usually very free from anything approaching a tragic or sensational eharaoter, hut yesterday the unexpected happened, and shortly after noon the news spread quickly round the tr.wn that a young man had committed si icicle at the back of the Post Office Hotel after an unsuccessful attempt to shoot a, young woman with, whom he had been keeping company. The story is r'omainjc, with a pathetic ending. Oh.wles W. Hutchison, aged ?4. loft the Old Land a few months ago ir order to strike out for himself in a country which -offered batten o-SDects than the congested labor markets of Scotland. He -was higihly respected, stlber, and industrious, and brought n card of recommendation from the Y.M.C.A. He sailed by the Re•muera, and amongst his fellowpassengci's was Jesmnic Todd, who was conning out to her sister, Mrs. ArbueMc, or Runanga, who 'Fiome months ago lost her Ihustad, and taas been keeping a boardinghouse. The two hacame friendly, and the friendship gradually timed into a stronger feeling. When hi. ey arrived in New Zealand they agreed to correspond. Hutchison went to Whangarei, and Miss Todd to Runanga. About three weeks ago Hutchison arrived here, and went to board with Mre. Arbuckle', and l'e continued to keep company witn Miss Todd, who 'htul secured employment as second cook nt tihe Post Office Hotel. For some reason, Hutchison's attentions became distastenil to the. girl, and she informed himi on Saiburday that she would have nio more to do with tan. He telegraphed her on Wednesday, asking her to go out to Runanga «nd see him. She wrote in reply, saying that she intended to have n'o more to do with him, and warning him not to come to the hotel looking for flier. On t)he following day, he gave Mrs. Arlmckle notice, saying he wae going to Wanganui to look for work. However, he came into town', went into a local ironmonger's shop, purchased a five-chambered revolver and a«r> titon, and then went to the hotel and asked to s»e tilile girl. He was told -by another employee that -Hie was out, but he waited about, ami at last caught sight of her. He asked heir to come outside and speak to him. He then drew the revolver, and pointed it at the girl, who at once .seizrti hi' 9 amis and screamed loudly. The revolver was very difficult to puli, and she managed to 'keep out of the way of the two shiots fired at her.

'Robert Edge, nn employee in trie hotel. lirarin.fr the Tushed out and dragged tlie girl owav fi'nm Hutchison, who then turned the revolver on Edge and jiifit missed his head. Fd.2e then Vw HmWiifon pines the revolver against Ms temple and fire. When assistance was procured, ITutchi-iou was found lying on the floor of the washhouse, bleeding profusely. Medicai assistance was procured, ami the. unfortunate, man. who was then in a state of collapse, was removed to the hovjrital, where lie died l at 1.45.

Everything points to the crime having been premeditated. Hutohisio'it was perfectly sober. At the inquest, Jeanmie Todd pave evidence that a little over a. fortnighif; ago she received a wire asking her if she could recommend him to anvone on the Coa.«it to get work. Witness replied, "Yes, come if you like." Deceased ) arrived about a fortnight ago. She s>w him 'about twice a week nmtil several days ago, when they ihltd a. disagreement, ami she (old him she. did not wi-'i to see him. She saw t' e deceased on Saturday ln.st, and was also with him on Sunday.' Just opposite Oobdcn Brßge the deceased said that if witness gave him up he would throw her iji: the river. The witness -then said she would nlri't give, him up. On Sunday niglvt. after getting back to the hotel, witness' again told 'him sihe did not want to we him again, She received a letter on Wednesday, asking 'her to look over ■what'had taken place, and meet him on Saturday. On the same evening she <vc- j ccived a telegram, and witness replied 1 that sho would not meet him on Saturday night, .and naked him nio.t to c ill on' iluer at the hotel. Coming to the tragedy ishe .mid deceased h,ad hands in his iptoekets at the time. TTe'j drew tan out, a.nd putting one on her I shoulder, 'she saw a revolver in f>c other ihhnd, and caught him by the wrist. Bo said ue would not (hurt ;ln'-r. Deceased pointed the revolver, and Ac struggled with him. At that time the deceased was working the revolver -with hte hand, «ind fihe heard a click, hut no report. Witness screamed, and IjVlge. the porter, came on the. scene.. Deceased Jet witness go, and We fired one Sht/t at Edge. Bilge caught hold of -witness, and deceased fired two more shots. •Deceased aimed the revolver straight at Edge. Witness was taken into the liotcl, and did not see the deceased fire on himself. Ed ,e, in his evidence, said he was not three yards away when deceased fired. Witness heard a click and thought it •was a hlank, whereupon witness dived. <\ second tfl'lnt was aimed at witness, and the bullet just grazed the hair of his head. The' deceased them turned the pisitol on the girl, and witness dived muter deceased's n™t and en light the girl. Tbo third shot was fired intentionally at the girl, hut missed, .and the gi'rl fainted. As he. opened the door to «ro into tilite yard 'again, he heard a edwt, and in looking in' the wii'shhourai 'he saw the deceased lying there. TTio thought deceased had been under the impr.wson that lie had shot tbo girl. The cornier return'"!' a verdict, or .suicide wMle in an abnormal state of mind.