THE CHRISTCHURCH SENSATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8183, 14 July 1906, Page 6

THE CHRISTCHURCH SENSATION.

Later particulars in connection with the tragedy that occurred at Lincoln on Thursday morning dhow that MoCutoheon was to have been married in toe Lincoln Presbyterian Church, at 11.30 a.m., and all arrangements had been made. McOutcheon was at the church waiting for the briue, and there was no bint of anything in the nature of a tragedy, until at 11.15 Detectives Bishop and Ward arrested the man in the church on a charge of having forged a cheque for £l5B, at Wellington. j McCutoheou made no resistance when arrested. He remarKed that he would be able to clear himself, and gaveJDeteotive Ward an account of his movements, with the object of showing that he had not been in Wellington on May Slat—the date on which he is alleged to have cashed a forged cheque for £l5B on the name of his employer, Mr A. W. Andrews, of Greeu Park. MoOutcheon seemed quite resigned to bis position, and, in the words of one of ttoe deteotives, "was as cool as a cucumber." A few minutes after his arrest MoCutoheon asked that he might be allowed to speak to the clergyman who was to have married him, the Rev. W. Spenoe. The request , seemed reasonable, and the prisoner was allowed to go into a front room of the manse with Mr Spence. Detective Bishop had gone away a little distance, and remained on the steps at the front door, from where he could see the prisoner. In order to speak to his companion, Jt^however, Ward lost sight of MoOatoheon for a few minutes, and.the prisoner took advantage of the opportunity to teour.e Mr Spenoe's permission to retire to a lavatoryj;at the baok of the manse. zThe deteotives were at the door a few moments after he had entered, but almost immediately a shot was heard. The door was opened, and MoCutoheon was found lying on the floor, with a smoking revolver in his hand and a large bullet wound in his forehead. Dr Logan was soon on the spot, and found the man still breathing, but evidently very . badly woanded. He did what was possible under the ciroumstances, arid ordered that the wounded man should be removed to the Ohriatohuroh Hospital. A start was made accordingly in a waggonette, the deteotives and the doctor accompanying the prisoners < bat MoCutoheon died on the way. The body was taken direct to the morgue, where it now ließ. ' 'How MoCutoheon had managed to seorete the revolver was shown when an examination was made of the body. He had a wooden leg, and there was a large cavity in the side which would easily oontain the weapon. The trouser leg baa been pulled ap to enable him to reach the hiding place. The revolver is a large one, nearly new, and contained two exploded shells. ■ As only one shot was fired by MoCutoheon after his arrest, it appears he had tried the weapon beforehand; He seemed to have prepared for what might possibly happen.