FATAL REVOLVER ACCIDENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1127, 17 January 1884, Page 3

FATAL REVOLVER ACCIDENT.

A shocking tragedy occurred at Olliffe’s Park Hofei, Sydney, on December 6th. At about half-past two o’clock a man servant at the hotel, neraed Erasmus Eular, was in charge of the bar. A stranger came in and ashed that two boxes, then in his possession, might be taken cave of for a time. The boxes were deposited on a shelf behind the bar. Shortly afterwards the barmaid, Norah Costello, came in and took her accustomed place. The stranger then asked for the boxes, and having received them, opened one and exhibited a pistol, Eular said it was a handsome weapon. He replied, ‘ Yes, I intend it as a present for my nephew in Bathurst.” Some few more commonplace remarks passed, and the man proceeded to load the weapon. ‘You should not do that, it is dangerous,” said Eular. ‘ No fear,’ replied the stranger, ‘ there are no caps. He appeared to have loaded three chambers, and was about placing a cartridge in the fourth when the charge exploded, The poor girl was heard to exclaim, ‘ Rus, Rus, the name by which Erasmus was familiarly known, and fell behind the bar. ihe nun Erasmus went instantly to her aid, raised her, and saw that blood was flowing from her mouth. With some assistance he carried her into the parlor, where it was found that the bullet had entered her right breast, causing almost instantaneous death. This evidence is in the main corroborated by a nursegirl named Minnie Purcell, who was in the bar at the time, but, singularly enough, neither seems to have paid any attention to the author of the tragedy. After the shot was fired he made off, but was soon captured and committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter. His name was Coonan. The unfortunate girl was about twenty-two, and had been acting as barmaid for sixteen months, She fa well known in the city, and a few weeks ago performed an act of bravery when an attempt was made to rob the till in the bar of the hotel. The deceased observed a man in the act of coramitmg the theft, immediately seized hold of him, and notwithstanding that he abused her in a brutal mannei, she succeeded in detaining him until assistance arrived, and the thief was taken into custody. The deceased never spoke after the fatal shot was fired.