FATALLY SHOT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 10830, 31 March 1932, Page 3

FATALLY SHOT

Tragedy at Seaside Resort. MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER. Dunedin, March 30 Tomahawk, a seaside resort near Dunedin, was the scene of a tragedy early this morning, when Mr Findlay Douglas Buchanan, a married man, aged 25, a relief worker, was fatally shot.

Louis William O'Connor, a married man living at Anderson’s Bay, was arrested on a charge of murder. The police were informed at 1.40 this morning and the victim of the tragedy was taken to hospital with severe stomach wounds, caused by a shotgun tired at close range. He died at 7.15 a.m.

The accused man, when arrested, was tit home in bed. It is stated that the Buchanan and O’Connor families were well acquainted. Yesterday O’Connor, who had been out shooting, called at Mr Buchanan’s house at midnight. He obtained a cigarette and, after a friendly conversation, was advised by Mrs Buchanan to go home. He went, but returned later when Mr and Mrs Buchanan were in tied. Mr Buchanan answered a knock at the door, and his wife heard ti shot. She found her husband lying inside the door. He was conscious, but was unable to spea k. O'Connor, it is alleged, was standing alongside with a gun. No motive for the alleged act is given at- present, but it is suggested that O’Connor had been drinking. He appeared before the Court this morning on a charge of murder, and was remanded until April 8. It is stated that O'Connor called at Mr W. J. Taber’s store, near Mr Buchanan’s home, for cigarettes, which were refused. He returned, evidently, after the tragedy, for his hammering on the door left bloodstains. Mr Taber threatened to come out to upon which O’Connor, it is alleged, said: “Come on out. I’ll fix you as well,” Mr Taber threatened to call the police and accused dropped a. gun on the verandah and decamped. Accused is an unemployed carter. The victim was an unemployed barman