THE WAIKAIA TRAGEDY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 12014, 15 October 1904, Page 3

THE WAIKAIA TRAGEDY.

ERWINS MAD ACT. (SPFCIUC TO "TIUS TRESS.'T DUNEDIN, Octobe 14. The Waikaia tragedy seems to have been the act of a madman. Erwin \ras,_employed some months ago as race-keeper of the Argylo water-race. Ho slmwed *ymp--toms of insanity, nt:d threatened ecwrnl men with a revolver. One William Moffatt took the"-weapon'from. liim. Erwin was at length discharged, and left the district on June 4th. ' Ho returned laat Monday, evidently for the purpose of securing his revenge on Moffntt, whom he inquired for, but.:who had left the district and gone to Nevis. He evidently took some fancy that Mrs Thornton had injured him, and'ho called there, and had dinner with the, family, for the purpose, as events proved, of better securing a chance of executing the dastardly deed. After the meal, Mrs Thornton's husband and sou left the house. Erwin stepped to the doorway to fay good-bye, and, while shaking hands with the woman, lie fired throe revolver shots point-blank at her, exclaiming as he did so, "I do not want" to kill you, but only to make you suffer." Constable Herlihypearchod for Erwin, and found him .lead at the race hut. On his person was found a rtatement to the effect, that he did not wish to kill Mrs Thornton, but <mly to make her «uffer, but he would kill r.tbVrs. s '.Envin is supposed to have come from near Rakaia.