IDIOT WITH A RIFLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 36, 12 February 1924, Page 5

IDIOT WITH A RIFLE.

SHOTS INTO PICNIC PARTY. LUNATIC STILL AT LARGE. KNOWN AS "DILLY BATSON. By Cable.—Press Association.—CopjTlg_fc» (Received 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Claude Valentine Batson, the half-wit, iged 22, who, it is supposed, fired 17 shots into a Jingellic picnic party with a magazine service rifle, is still at large although a cordon is said to be complete round him. Mr. Sheppard, manager of the Jingellic butter factory, who was shot through th< lungs, is still in a serious condition. TrainoT (or Gainor), who was hit it the knee, is also in a serious condition. The scene of the shooting is a small isolated farming township on the Uppei Murray, close to the Victorian border with few telegraphic and other facilities The news did not reach Sydney till aftei midnight. Batson is described as ai experienced tmenman. Batson was seen in the vicinity o Lankey's Creek, five miles from the scen< of the shooting, where he fired at Police Sergeant Morris, who had a narrow escape. After shooting the picnickers he firet at a boy, who had a lucky escape. Batsoi is a labourer, and illiterate. He wai regarded in the district, of which he i: a native, as a harmless eccentric, ant went by the name of "Dilly" Batson. A VICTIM'S STORY. INTERFERENCE BY WOMEN. (Received 12.30 p.m.l SYDNEY, this day. Search of Batson _ room revealed tha besides his rifle, his revolver and a larg quantity of ammunition are missing. It is known that he had a quarrel witl Shepherd and King, but he did not kno* the other two victims. Graphic stories oi the tragedy are tot by Gaynor and McGrath. The forme I said: ''King was lighting a pipe, and was walking beside him, when I hear lan explosion. At first I thought it wa his box of matches, but instantly h screamed and grabbed his stomach. Blow spurted from his clothing and he fell, went to his assistance, and as : l wa about to pick him up I was shot in th knee. Just across the creek, at a die tance of 40yds, I saw a man in the ac of taking aim at mc again. Then I fel and rolled over the bank of the creel into the water. At this moment my wif and Mrs. McGrath arrived and denounce Batson for shooting at unarmed men. H j appeared to have no' desire to shoo women- I swam over the creek unde the shelter of the hank on which Batso: was standing, and lay concealed in th water for about half an hour. My kne was bleeding profusely, and I was semi conscious till rescued by a party froa Jingellic. After I was shot Batson con tinued to fire at the rest of the party McGrath was the third to be hit."—(A and N.Z. Cable.) DEATH OF MR. SHEPHERD. LARGE PARTIES IN PURSUIT [ (Eeceivefl 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, ths day. David Thomas Shepherd (not Shep pard) died of his wounds in Jingelli- a short time alter the shooting. All the able-bodied men in the neigh bourhood, numbering 200, "are armed seeking Batson, Avho is well supplied witl food. The story of the shooting ahowi that the men did not take it seriouslj until two of their number were writhing in agony from serious wounds. At th< lirst discharge they called across th< creek to Batson to ceaac his jokes. Th< only reply was further shots. Sergeant Morris, of Holbrook, fount the first trace of the fugitive, and wai hot on the trail when darkness fell. Hi picked up the tracks again in the moling, and later in the day Morris ant another policeman came upon Batson ii a hut. Without waiting for a challenge Batsoi fired two shots. The police returned th fire, but all the shots flew wide. Batson then disappeared, leaving hi hat behind. Late in the afternoon a cordon was drawn Tound where the fugitive was seen. It is expected that he will be captured to-day. It is believed that he is making for the Murray Kiver, to cross and enter the impenetrable scrub on the Victorian side, where he would easily be able to elude capture. A close watch is Sieing kept on the fords and bridges, but Batson is a strong swimmer.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) EX-ARMY OFFICER. HIT FOUR TIMES. (Received 1.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, ths day. .fir. M-Grath, ". ,'io Avas formerly a major in the Light Horse, said that he heard a shot and saw King fall, followed by Gaynor, Avho fell on the top of him. "I ran to his assistance, and as I did so saw a man taking aim at mc at a distance of less than 30yds. He was oh the other side of the creek, _nd from the frequency of the shots was apparently using a clip of cartridges. I thought the best thing I could do was to go back home and get my rifle. At this moment Batson commenced to fire at mc. I was first hit Avhen I started on a 100 yds run to the house in full view of the armed man, judging he had used all the cartridges in the clip. I timed his shooting, and dodged from left to right as I saw him taking aim over my shoulder. In all I was hit our times, and if I had not dodged I would certainly have been killed. .Even when I gained the house he continued to fire at the house. Seizing a rifle, I attempted to aim at him, but could not steady t'.e rifle sufficiently on account of my wounded arm. "Batson was making towards the women and I ran to head him off. He saw mc coming and dodged behind trees, then took to his heels, running out oi range as fast as he could. I reached the women and took them across the creek •waist deep in water, taking advantage of every cover." It appears that Batson boarded with Barber, one of the party. On Sunday morning he took a rifle and some ammunition, and told Barber that he was going for shooting. He had about 250 rounds of ammunition, and was considered oni of the best shots in the district, though when shooting at the picnickers hi appeared to be labouring under a greai mental, nervous strain, and like a mar demented. He fired ahoufc a dozen shot: at McGrath while the latter was running for his rifle. — (A. and _?--.)