FATAL SHOOTING AFFRAY IN WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4466, 10 July 1893, Page 3

FATAL SHOOTING AFFRAY IN WELLINGTON.

A liitlfl liofore 2 o'clock on Saturday afternoon a most lamentable shooting affray ocourred in the houso of VVm. Wftltei- James Spreat, at thn cornor of Brougham and Pirie streets, whiob terminated fit&lly. The nkot was fired by Louie Albert Sanderson, a resident iu ibe houso and a son of

Mrs Smdeuon. The deceased lived until 11 o'clock on Saturday night, when he expired in great agony. The reports in connection wuh tho case aro very contradictory, but tbo fact?, as near as c-m be ascertained, appear lo be as follow

It feema that for months past an unfortunato difference has existed between Louis AlbertJandorHon, his younger brothor, Ernest Valontine Sanderson, and Spreat, an old friend of tlio family and intinmleof Mrs Bandemon, the boy's mother, Bickerings between the bojs and the old man were frequent, and on Saturday morning, all partifs being in an irritablo state of mind, a quarn-1 commenced between Valontino (the younger), Louis and the old man, It smouldered throughout tlio mornifi!>, and liuiilly, as words multiplied and recriminations bocaino more bitter between Spreat r and Valentine, tlio two were worked ; into a state bordering on frenzy. Tlio old man cliasfd Valentino into the lioase and upstairs, tho latti-r rushed in'o a bedroom and closing tlio dour behind him, Spreat, fouling bims lr hal; (d, nous down stairs and into : hc front ground* of the im.uso in starch of Louis. In the room into whic:i Valentino had run fo/ refuge wi re three sporting guns and a revolver, and ho, taking a double-barrelled shot-gun from the rack, got out of tho window, and by means of ut tank just beneath it reached tho baokyard. Shortly after his brothor appeared round llie corner of the house, placed a ladder against tho wall, md olimbed through tho bodroom window. He had hardly passed through before the old man camo running round the corner and at once realised the situation, and seizing a knife sud a poker, sprang towards the ladder. When hit was about half Way up, Valentine, who was still standing in tho yard, cried out, ' stop or I'll shoot I' Tho old man paid no attention, however, and continued lo climb up. On reaching the wiudnw he scrambled in, andmado a rush towards Louis, brandishing the poker and knife, Louis, finding himself cornered, and («s he claims) not 1 knowing that the door was uulocked, grasped a Martini Henry rifle, which was on one of the racks, anil called out to (he old man to stand or he . would fire. Tho latter paying no at- ' tention, the weapon either through ' nervous agitation or deliberate intent was discharged, tho bullot striking ' Spreat in tho left side, passing ' through tlio abdominal cavity, euierg- 1 ing from the hip, and shattering a 1 looking glass. It must have ulti. 1 mately passed through tho window as ' no trace of it can be found, Spreat sank lo tho ground, but regaining his feet followed Louis, who, opening tho door, ran downstairs into tho baokyard. The old man succeeded in roach- 1 ing tlio lower hall and there sank 1 senseless, The boys telephoned to Dr. 1 Collins and to tho Police Station, nnd tho formor shortly after arrived, ' It was at once Been that the,casew»s ' most serious, and ihe dying man's de- 1 positions wore taken by Inspector Pehder, who had in tbe meantime ' appeared on the scene. Deceased ex- | onerated the boys from blame and said, " Louis shot mo, but I don't blame him j I have irritated him very much," At 5.20 Louis Sanderson was arrested by Constable Madden,and conveyed to the watch-house, At 11 o'clook Spreat expired, Mrs Sanderson being present during his last moments.

The deceased was, wo havo beon informed, ofamost eccentric disposition, »nd subject to epileptic fits, At times his irritability was unbearable and he was uable to live on amicable terms with any of the fatriljj During the last few months on account of his frequent quarrels with the boys he baa used the loft of the stables in the rear of the houao for a sleeping apartment. Before dying Spreat made the statement on oath to Inspector Pender that the boys were his sons, Mrs Sanderson, however, contradicts this flatly, and claims that they are her children by lier first husband. The accused, Louis Albert Sanderson, has beon for many years in the employ of Messrs Nathan & Co., and liia brother, Yaleutine, a well known cricketer, is an employiof the A.M.P, Society, No steps have been taken against the latter.—N.Z. Times,

Wellington, Monday. Louifl Albert Sanderson wab charged with the murder of Walter James Spreat, and was remanded till Wednesday. Bail was disallowed, The inquest will bo held to-morrow,