FARMER SHOT DEAD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1921, Page 9

FARMER SHOT DEAD.

A VICTORIAN TRAGEDY. Melbourne, June 23. Details of the tragedy at Mordialloc on June 2, when Patrick Joseph Duff, market gardener, 53 years of age, was shot in a paddock while ploughing, were related to-day' to the City Coroner (Dr, R. H. Cole), who held an inquiry into Duff’s death. Detective Piggot statecT that he had interviewed a man named Dowling at Fern tree Gully police station, where he had surrendered himself on the morning following the shooting. Dowling Signed a statement, in which he related how he (Dowling) had bought a rifle and cartridges, gone to Mordialloc, and while Duff was ploughing fired at him. Earlier in his statement Dowling said that on the night of December 3, 1920, he saw Duff in the kitchen of the house with his (Dowling’s) mother, while his father was away at the market. He remonstrated with his mother, but Duff still called at the house regularly. About the Wednesday' before the tragedy he saw his mother and Duff sitting alone in the kitchen. This made him angry. He determined to huv a gun to shoo< Duff.

The coroner found Dowling guilty of wilful murder, and committed him for trial, remarking that if his allegation as to his mother’s opnduet was true it had no doubt affected his mind.