THE PICNIC SENSATION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10041, 12 February 1924, Page 5

THE PICNIC SENSATION

SUSPECTED MAN TRACKED.

BATSON A GOOD BUSHMAN.

(Per Press Association—Copyright. SYDNEY, Fob. 11.

The scene of the picnic shooting is a small and 1 isolated farming township ! on the Upper Murray, close to tho Victorian border, with few telegraphic and other facilities. The news did not reach Sydney till after midnight. Batson is described as an experienced bushman, making the chance of his capture more difficult. Victorian, border police are assisting in the search.

POLICE FIRED ON.

SECOND VICTIM CRITICALLY ILL

SYDNEY, Feb. 11

According to the latest report, Claude Valentine Batson was seen in the vicinity of Lankey’s Creek, five miles from the. scene of the shooting, where he fired at Police-Sergeant Morris, who had a narrow escape. After shooting the picnickers yesterday evening he fired at a boy, who had a lucky escape. Batson is aged 22 years, and is a labourer. He is illiterate and regarded as ar harmless eccentric. He went by the name of “Dilly” Batson. As Batson fired the shots from the Victorian side of the river, responsibility for. his capture devolves on the Victorian police; but forces from both States are co-operating in the hunt. Gainor, or Trainor, who was a visitor to Jingellic, -received a gunshot wound which fractured his knee. His condition is now reported to be serious.

HEMMED IN.

EARLY CAPTURE EXPECTED

SYDNEY, Feb. 11

Batson -was seen this afternoon within a mile of Jingellic, having doubled back.

He is reported to have a strong cordon of fully-armed police and civilians around him, and it is expected that he will be captured during the-night.' It is believed that Jie possesses a large stock of ammunition, which he obtained a.s a member of a rifle club.

Sheppard was wounded in the lungs and King in the abdomen. Both are in a critical condition.

I V STILL FREE AT LAST WORD

SYDNEY, Feb. 11. Up to a late hour to-night Batson Was still uncaptured, but inside the cordon.

STORY OF THE MAN HUNT.

A BATTLE AT A HUT.

QUARRY HEMMED IN.

(Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. David Thomas Shepherd died of wounds in Jingellic a short time after the shooting. All able-bodied men in the neighbourhood, numbering 200, are aimed and seeking Batson, who is well supplied’ with food. The story of the shooting shows that the 'men did not take it seriously until two of their number were writhing in agony from serious wounds. At the first discharge they called across the creek to Batson to cease his jokes. The only reply was further shots. Sergeant Morris, of Holbrook, found the first trace of the fugitive, and was hot pn the trail when darkness fell. He picked up the tracks again inrthe morning, and later in the day Morals and another policeman came us>n Batson in a hut. Without waiting for a challenge Batson fired two shots. The police returned the fire, but all the shots flew .wide. Batson then disappeared, leaving Ins hat behind. Late in the afternoon a cordon was drawn round where the fugitive was seen. It was expected he would be captured to-day. . , It is believed he was making tor the Murray River to cross and enter impenetrable scrub on the Victonanfside, where he would he easily-able to elude capture. A close watch is being kept on P the fords and bridges, but Batson is a strong swimmer.

AROlucK SiOftY. EX-SOLDiKit’S TACTICS'.

McGrath, who was formerly a major in the Light Horse, said he heard the shot ana saw King fall, followed by Gaynor, who fell on top oi him. ran to his assistance, >and as x did so I saw a mail taking aim at me at a distance of less than thirty yards. Me was on the other side of the creek, and from the frequency of the shots he was apparently using & clip on the cartridges. I thought the best thing I could do was to go home and get my ! r ifle At this moment Batson com- ! menced to fire at me. I was first hit ! w hen I started on a hundred ' run to the house in full view of the ' armed man. Judging, that he had/ used all his cartridges in the clip I timed his shooting and- dodged fiom, Ipft to right, as I saw him taking aim my shoulder. In all I was.hit Sr times, and if I had dot dodged II would certainly have been killed. Eve Trainer the house he continued

to fire at the house Seizing a rxfle l attempted to aim at lnm, but could not steady the rifle sufficiently on account of my wounded arm. • Batson was making for the and I ran to head him oft. He saw me coming and dodged behind trees and then took to his heels, runmng. range as fast as he could. / , taking ad-| V Son Z STTUM'aS - ammunition and told Baiber ie was noinc fox shooting. He had about 250 rounds of ammunition and was considered one of the >,est shots m the district, though when shootingt picnickers he appeared to he loboui Fng under great mental and nervous strain and appeared like a man demented. He fired about a dozen shots

at McGrath while the latter was running for his rifle. . rtoTTior’s TVitson before leaving Barbel s, ransacked the house for food and ammunition He has a passion for rifle roaming the ranges

l DETAILS OF THE SHOOTING. EYE-WITNESS’ STORY. (Received February 12, 11-15 a.m.) (tie SYDNEY, This Day. A search of Batson’s/room revealed that, beside his rifle, bis reyMver and a large quantity of ammunition el - missing. It was known, he had a quar,el with Shepherd and King, I>"‘ l ® /did not know the other victims. The rifle used was a military weapon ax the use of magazine charges account for the extraordinary rapidity of his stories of the tragedy are told bv Gaynor and McGrath. fU c former sakh “ King was Bating Ins nnH I was walking beside him.

when I iheard an explosion. At first I thought it was his box hi* instantly he screamed and grabbed hi. stomach. Blood spurted flora ms clothing and he fell. I went to h assistance and as I was about to pick him up I w«a shot in the knee. Ju«f ! across the creek at athstanoe of 40 ! yards I saw a man m the act of talur aim at me again. then l ten a.r I rolled over the bank of the creek mtr the water. At this moment my wi<V and Mrs McGrath arrived and do- ! nonnced Batson for shooting at unarmed men. He appeared to have m 'desire to shoot the women. I swa’r, 'over the creek under the shelter of the ibank on which Batson was standinnr. 'and lay concealed in the water about half an hour. My knee was bleeding profusely, and I was semi-conscious tiH rescued' >v a narty from JingeUik. After I was shot Batson continued to fire at the rest of the Party. McGrath was the third to be hit.”