EXTRAORDINARY MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 26, 1 February 1887, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY MURDER AND SUICIDE.

The Glou Innes "Examiner" giros tho following account of tho tragic occurrence at Wellingrove : - " Ono of tho moat oxtraordinary tragodioe which it haa been our lot to chroniclo was enactod at \\ rellingrove at an early hour on Wednesday morning last It appears that a half-caste namod Billy M'Dougall, who was engaged on tho station kangaroo shooting, and a man named Daley, a edition hand, roturnod to Daiey'a tont about sundown. They had tea, and shortly afterwards a. small flask of brandy waa produced which they drank M'Dougall then lofl for tho purposo of procuring moro drink at Carroll's public-houso. Being refusod by the landlord, ho returned to the tent, and onterod into conversation with Daley and his wife, the latter of whom is a half-caste, with a family of six children. M'Dougall tbon wont outsido, and was heard striking matches. Ho onterod tho tont for tho third time, when Mrs Daloy remarked to her husband that she did not liko the wild look in Billy's eyes, and felt frightened, aud, as she described it, her heart gave a big jump. Daloy, too, appoared to have a premonition of some impending danger, for ho romarked to his wifo, that ho also was afraid that something was going to happon. Meanwhile M'Dougall again loft tho hut, and was absent for eomo three or four houra. Being naturally afraid,they did not retiro to rest. Shortly aftor midnight, Daloy was leaning over on his right sido. at if to lio down on the pillow, when M'Dougall rußbed in, holding an oxo in both hands, and struck Daley with hta full force over tho left temple, crushing in tho skull. Mrs Daloy asserts that she heard the bonos crack. The unfortunate man fell over on tho bod, and groaned once, but did not make any further noise. Blood coommencod to flow, from bis head, ears, and noae, and he breathod hia last about eight hours after wards, never regaining consciousness. Aftor the blow was struck, Mrs Daley throw up hor arms, aud said to M'Dougall, " You have killed my husband !" to which ho ropliod, " Havo I killed Peter 1 Thon I will got a knife and do the satno to myeolf." She and tho children commenced to scream. M'Dougoll told them that if they did not etop ho would eervo them all alike Ho threw the nxe outside, and shook hands with Mrs Daloy and tho children, and paid, " I will not shoot you," and put on his hat and coat, and said " Good-byo." Tho torror-fltriokon wifo thou eaid, "Don't como back and kill us !" to which he replied, " No, I will kill lnysolf, and you will lind my body in tho bush." Ho then gallopped away, and she saw no moro of him. M'Dougail (who is living with n half casto named Emma Harrison, pot homo at daylight and wont to bod. By this time news of tho murder had roachod tho head station, and Constable Hargrsvcs, who waa there collecting tho olectoral roll went to M'Dougall's but, with a view of ascertaining tho murderer's whereabouts. Tho coufitablo inquired whothor Mr Seton was about. M'Dougall, who waa inaido, said that ho was at the drafting yards. When Hurgravee was leaving, the murderer eaid to his paramour, "That's tho polico coming to hang me for killing J'oter Daley." Having found Mr Soton, Hargraves returned to tho hut in his oompany ; when they wero close to tho place, M'Dougall romarked to tho woman, "Shall I shoot tho constablo through tho slabs ?" Hhe replied, " No, don't !" At this time ho had a loaded gun in his hand, pointed as if going to do fo. Just an tho constable was coming up to tho door, M'Dougall ait down on the bed, put tho gun to his forehead, with the stock resting on tho ground, and leaning over the barrel, he pulled tho trigger with both thumbs, thereby blowing tho wholo af the loft aido of tho skull clean off, hia brains boing scattered all over tho room. Daley was a man !>0 years of age, and M'Dougall, who was a fine athletic fellow, . was about 28. There does not nppear to havo been the slightest ill-feoling between tho two men up to tho moment of tho commission of tho murder, and tho coroner is of opinion that the act was tho outcome of murderous instincts, aroused in a half-savago nature by recent indulgence in drink.