A Bush Tragedy.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 6206, 29 February 1904, Page 3

A Bush Tragedy.

SHOT BY AN UNSEEN HAND.

A NOMADIC SUSPECT.

Wellington; Feb. 28,

News has been received that a man named Collinson, who was employed as a bushfeller at Te Awaite Station, thirty miles from Martinborough, was shot dead on the bush track near the station by an unseen hand, whilst in company with his mate*

Wellington, Feb. 29

The man Len Collinson, shot on Riddi* ford's station, Te Awaiti, was with his mate Alfred William Ross, engaged in measuring up some bush which they had felled, when the tragedy occurred. It was near dusk on Friday night and Ross had left his companion to cut a sapling when he heard the report as of a shot from a gun. Looking round he saw Collinson lying dead. There is very little doubt Collinson was murdered and a man named Dick Ellis, alias Jimmy McKenzie, is suspected. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. Ellis has lived a nomadic life in the wild bush country near the scene of the murder for some time, but no cause is assigned for the committal of i the crime. The police are searching for Ellis, but it is considered he will never be ! taken alive. The country is extremely wild, and bushmen who know it will be required to capture him, or to render aid to the police. Ellis is between 35 and 40 years of age, and is said to be eccentric. Collinson was a remittance man, of 30 years, and is stated to have been at one time Secretary to Sir Willinm Vernon Harcourt. He came to the colony about 4 years ago. His father is a well-known solicitor in London, and he has a brother in Christchnrch. Neither Collinson nor Ross had firearms with them. Later Additional particulars of the tragedy a*: Teawaiti Station show that Collinson and Ross were working in a cutting. Ross first heard the report of a rifle, and looking up saw Collinsou rolling down the hill, and Ross made an effort to trace the person who fired the shot, but was unsuccessful. Collinson was shot through the heart. The inquest is proceeding. Carterton, Feb. 29.

The man the police are in search of for the Martinborough tragedy, is suspected of arson in connection with a fire at a wool shed in the neighbourhood. He has been dismissed from several stations, and is known to have threatened the life of Mr Buuny, the manager of Riddiford's stations, and also the deceased and others. It is supposed he was in search of Bunny when ho met the deceased, Bunny had gone out to show the bushmen their felling contract, and was met by a station hand, and returned by another route, otherwise he might have met the Bame fate as Collinson.