MURDER OF A BANK MANAGER.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1031, 27 April 1894, Page 6

MURDER OF A BANK MANAGER.

«- . Mr M'Kay, manager of the branch of the Commercial Bank at Barraba, 78 miles from Tarn worth, Few South "Wales, was shot dead at noon on Wednesday last week by two armed men. M'Kay was shot through the head. Two policemen were absent from town when the affair happened. While returning they met the two murderers on the road, riding hard. At that time they were not aware, of the tragedy, and consequently paid very little attention to the men. The Barraba tnurdeiers.are reported to have been seen 10 miles from the township. One of the men had a severe wound on the shoulder from which blood was flowing, and he had to be supported on, horseback,. by his mate. It is supposed the wounded man was accidentally shot by his comrade during the attack on the, bank.

Valuable horses have been shot on a station near Barraba. This is supposed to be the work of the men who murdered M'Kay, the bank manager. Cummins, the well-known shearers' delegate, has been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the murder of the manager Commercial Bank at Barraba. He is said to have been in a starving condition, and admitted having .a . horse, swag, and rifle, but declined to say where they are hidden. When arrested he was soaking wet and in an exhausted and excited condi tion. He declared that he had been shooting kangaroos, and had lost his horse. He had but little money. Some untwisted rope, like a false beard, was found on him. Cummins served five years early in the eighties for horse-stealing. It is thought in the Barraba district that the murderers of M'Kay are making for Dripping Rock, where Thunderbolt, the bushranger, camped. At this point there is a cave where two men could keep a whole regiment at bay. Ten search parties, fully armed, are scouring the country. The search party about which anxiety was felt is safe. M'Manus, a well-known resident of Gunnedah, has been arrested on a charge of the murder of Mr M'Kay on grounds apparently conclusive, as the hat and coat found in his possession answer to the description of one of the* murderers. He has been remand fid to Barraba. Two others who ware arl'esfced proved an alibi, and were discharged.