THE LATE SHOOTING CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1347, 4 June 1874, Page 2

THE LATE SHOOTING CASE.

TRIAL OF MR BATEMAK

SENTENCE TEN YEARS' SECLUSION.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Noumea, May 26.

A tremendous amount of excitement has been caused in. our community by the occurrence of a tragedy at Oubatchj in in Englishman named Bateman, who mi, I believe, for some time a resident in Auckland, is seriously concerned. Mrßateman was manager of a cattle station .owned by Mr Henry, and lived with air- wife at Oubatcb. On returning from:th*;bußhonß evening be saw the Lieutenant of Infantry who had charge of the Oubatch station, embracing Mrs Bateman on the verandah of to own residence. Mr Bateman, in a pasuon, rushed into the house and procured a. pistol, with which he shot his wife's paramour dead. .He was at once takenjnto.cnstody and sent to"Noumea. A searching examination ~ instituted by the authoritiM shewed that relations had exifited between the deceased and Mrs Batemui for some time previously.. The lieutenantwu himself a very fair specimen of the averaga French officerr^a notorious rone, gambler, and braggadocio,—a very different gtaapoi man from what we Englishmen aw arenatomed to expect in an officer. ..He was the anti - type of the high-spirited gentlemen, and there was consequently a very strong feeling of sympathy among the English lor Mr Bateman, who has always been highly esteemed. There was a general expression? 1 satisfaction that an Englishman had[been found with pluck enough to resent ati «,ow» to be resented the insolence and injury wto* wretches like these pride themselves v. Bateman's trial came on at Noumea on «je 26th May, when the fact that h»Jud:W*»» pistol in his hand and shot the officer on &J spur of the moment, but that hew?** a »* got the weapon for the purpose,'W«ff Igainst him. As also did the foot-JJ although Uvingas man and TOjWLi man and he were not married. The verg therefore, was ten years seclusion, «» means that he shall be placed nnderMr«£ lauce for that period. la-.'J^iSi French Court it must be stated -VWT judges shewed the prisoner eyerywnsw^ tion, and were in no way prejudiced »> rank of the victim.