THE OTAGO TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4177, 28 July 1892, Page 3

THE OTAGO TRAGEDY.

Mysterious Gireumstanees. (Per United Presa Association). 1 Inveboaroill, July 27. Riohard Bell, farmer, was returning from a meeting of the Hokonui Farmers' Club on Monday night, at half-past ten, and when in thu net of .' stooping from his horse to open a gate was deliberately shot in the tuce by Bomo person waiting near by. The cheek was feai fully shattered, and Ihejaw carried away. He managed to reach his home, and lived three hours, bui was unable to tell who was the murderer. The deceased was a quiet and inoffensive man. He leavos a young wife and several children. When BBked by his wife if he know anybody he thought would do it, ho mnde a sign in the negative, An inquest will be held to-morrow, Later. Very little information is available regarding the murder of Eichard Bell, farmer, at Lora on Monday night, His brother-in-law, Mr J. McMaster, accompanied him part of the Why home, and wished him to stop at his house, the night being very dark, Bell declined, as his wife would be anxious, The e-hot was fired from behind a tussock. Mrs Bell heard the report, and feeling alarmed, went out and along . tho track to the gate, She met her ; husband at the small bridge over the Btream, which in his desperate condition he was unable to cross till she assisted him. Mr Bell wis 39 years ot ago, and leaves a widow and family of four or five; also bis aged father who resided with him. The gun with which tho foul deed was done was found close.lo tho gate with the muzzle driven into the ground, Bell was formerly employed in a brewery in Invercargill, and all who knew him gave him a high character as a man honourable in his dealing, and of remarkably pleasant manner. There being no train from Winton to-night, no further particulars are to hand', Inspector Hickson arrived from Dunedin to-day, and it is probable that a systematic search of the locality to discover the owner of the gun will be made. The fact thtt because there is noin- - spector in the district all comintmiea- , lions from the country police go to Dunedin, has been strongly animadverted on to-day, the local force of nine men being without notice of tho murder till the newspapor reporters called at the camp for information 24 hours after Sell had been shot, A number of the town Justices held a preliminary meeting this evening, at which the Mayor presided, and the following resolution was unanimously adopted ;—" That the Mayor of Invercargill be requested to call a meeting of Justices of the Peace for Southland to urge on the Minister for Justice the necessity for reappointing a police inspector for the Southland district, to be stationed at Invercargill, or failing this,that such arrangements be immediately made as will tend to prevent any probable miscarriage of justice through unnecessary delay."