A WAIRARAPA TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1919, Page 4

A WAIRARAPA TRAGEDY.

A MAN SHOT DEAD. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF CULPRIT, By Telegraph.—Press Association.. Masterton, Last Night A shocking tragedy occurred at Strati* var, about 25 milen from Masterton, on Friday night. Tlnee men—Alexander Reside, sen., Christopher Carr, single, aged 33 years, and James Reside,, aged about 40 years, son of Alexander Reside —were residing together in a wh&re. They had been playing cards, and had retired to rest about ten o'clock. James Reside, a soldier who had returned by the Giesscn, and Carr were sleeping in. the same room. The men were on the best of terms, and there was no quarrel. Shortly after going to bis room Reside, sen,, heard the report of .a gun. He rushed out, and found his son with a double-barrelled gun in his hand. His son said: "I've shot Christie. He had a bomb ho was going to use. There are two others' outside Fm going to get." He found Carr lying in bed, undressed, with the top of his head blown oil. He was still breathing heavily. Jim Reside was fully dressed, and was standing with a gun in his hand. His father tried to get it from him, but he refused to hand it over. The father and son then walked four miles to a whare occupied by Alexander Reside, jun., the son still carrying the gun. Alexander Reside, jun., proceeded some miles on horseback and rang up the police. Meanwhile, Alexander Reside, sen., and Jim Reside walked back to the father's whare, but after they had returned Jim disappeared, taking the gun with him. '

The police, on arrival early on Saturday morning, examined the body of Carr and found it quite dead. They then went in search of Jim Reside. On arriving at Alexander Beaide's whaw they burst it in, and, on entering the bedroom, found Jim Reside lying In bed with his. throat cut. There were three gashes in the left side of the neck, one being deep. A bloodstained raror wa» lying on the left arm, and a gun, with both barrels loaded, was discovered on the adjacent stretcher. Reside by tbj* time was unconscious. Dr. Cook arrived and bandaged the wounds, and the man was carried on a stretcher over four miles of rough country and brought to Masterton Hospital, where his wounds were stitched up. He is expected to survive. The police searched the premises, but found no evidence of drinking. Reside left for the front with the •10th Reinforcements, and was one of those who had a severe attack of influenza. Ho went out to Stronvar on Sunday last, and on the journey out suddenly assaulted a fellow passenger and left the motor car, reaching home on foot about midnight. Christopher Carr was employed as a shepherd on Reside's properly. An inquest on his body will be held tomorrow.