AMOK WITH GUN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 85, 11 April 1945, Page 7

AMOK WITH GUN

JILTED MAN'S CRIME DOUBLE MURDER AND SUICIDE O.C. CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. How Omihi Francis Conway Burrows, a farmer, aged about 44, shot Victor Skilling, soldier, aged about 25, and Alice Dron, widow, aged 63, at Balcairn on the night of March 24 was described before Mr. Raymond Ferner, S.M., when three inquests were cpmpleted. Verdicts were given that Mrs. Dron and Skilling died from gunshot wounds in the head inflicted by Burrows, and that Burrows died from a gunshot wound in the head self-inflicted. Florence Ivy Dron, a single woman, aged 26, said that she had been keeping company with Burrows for a considerable time, but they had never become engaged, although marriage frequently was discussed. Burrows became very annoyed when she received attention from any other men. She met Skilling while he was in a military harvesting camp in the district. She saw Skilling frequently and eventually told Burrows she intended to keep company with Skilling. Burrows visited her home some weeks later and did not seem unduly annoyed. They agreed to remain friends. After spending a day in Christchurch with Skilling on March 24, witness returned with him to her home in Balcairn, where they had tea with her family. She saw Burrows appear at a window and later heard the sound of his car passing and repassing the house at speed. The First Shot Later a group was in the kitchen when Burrows again appeared at a window, shattered the glass with a shotgun and shot Skilling, who was sitting at a table. Skilling collapsed and Mrs. Dron rushed to assist him. Burrows then came in through the door, placing another cartridge in the shotgun. Witness' brother Jack told Burrows to put the gun down, but he advanced and shot Mrs. Dron, who fell to the floor with Skilling. Witness and her sister, then fled to a bedroom, where Burrows caught witness. Witness escaped outside, where Burrows again caught her. They again escaped inside, but Burrows caught them in the kitchen and struck her sister on the head with the stock of the gun. She fell to the ground. Witness ran outside, but Burrows pursued her and in a struggle which ensued Burrows struck her on the jaw with his fist and threw her to the ground, where he kicked her, saying, "I have one for each of you." Finally he struck her on the head with the stock of the gun. In the meantime her sister had recovered and fled to a neighbour's house. When witness recovered she followed. Detective E. G. Ward gave evidence of how a party of detectives went to the scene at 11.45 p.m. and found Burrows shot on a path outside the house of Mrs. Dron. A shotgun which he had used had the stock shattered, pieces being found near where Burrows was stated to have struck the women with it. The coroner described the shootings as a multiple tragedy.