THE PIRIE-STREET SHOOTING AFFAIR.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 8, 10 July 1893, Page 2

THE PIRIE-STREET SHOOTING AFFAIR.

DEATH OP MR. SPBEAT. ARREST ON A CHAKGE Ol? MURDER. The Bhootine affair of which we wero only ablo to give brief pjrticulars on Saturday lias sinco developed into a tragedy, in consequeni'o of the death of Mr. W. W. J. Sprcat, who was shot by the young man Louis Sanderson The case ot the wounded man was serious from the first, bat as the afternoon wore on and fatal symptoms wero observable, on the advice of the medical men who were in attendance, Drs. Collins and Fell, his depositions woro taken by tho police. Tho injured man, however, lingered until about a quarter-past 11 o'clock at night, when lie died. Louis Sanderson, who shot him, was arrosted earlier in I lie evening, and was subsequently charged with murder The affair has created a great amount of consternation in town, tho parties bein;f well known, and sjrapathy is expressed with the family over tho unfortunate occurrence. It is a singular nifjii- from beginning: to cud, und tho real facts will not bo known until divulged at the inquest, winch takes place before the Coroner to-morrow. From what is at present known it would appear that tho household, which consisted of seven persons, was not a particularly happy one. On this account the deceased, who possessed an ungovernable temper, used a loft in tho stable at the rear ot the house as a sleeping apartment, and had his meals at a privat* boardinghouso. 1 ibseusion occurred between the doceased and one of the boya early on Saturday morning about the fowls, and again later on, regarding the clearing away of a portion of a bank which the wet weather had caused to slip and cover a part of the footpath in Pirie-streofc. The deceased wanted some as-istance in removing the earth, and not getting it, in a fit of temper went into the house, and passionately declaring that ho would ''givo them something to do," emptied several buckots of water down in tho hall. Violent altercations ensued, which culminatod, it is said, in tho old man lifting a poker to tho boys. Valentino Sanderson picked up a policeman's baton which was in the house, a trophy of tho late maritime strike, when special constables wero armed with batons to preserve order, and struck at the old man to make him drop tho pokey. Tho baton hit him on tho arm, and broke off short at the handlo. Valentino then ran up stairs, followed by Spreat, and locked himself in Ilia bedroom, and Spreat, finding ho could not rcauh him, armed himself with a knife as well ns tho poker, and wont in search of Louis. Valentino, on reaching his bedroom, seized a doublo-barrellod sporting gun, and getting out of the window, reached the ground by means of the sponting and a tank, which stood just under the window. Lotus, to escape the old mau, got a ladder, and by this means climbed up and got through the windowinto tho bedroom. Spreat followed, and it is alleged that whilo ho was ascending tho ladder Valentine called 6n him to stop or he would shoot him, and also called out 10 his brother to got his "gnu". However, Spreat took no notioe of Valentino's warning, but got throngh the window into the room, and advanced upon Louis with the poker and knife. Tho latter, believing that tho door was lacked and cscapo impossible, lilted a Martini-Henry rifle and fired. The bullet struck Spreat on the left breastbone, and passing through tho stomach and kidney caqte out just above the hip, and shattered a looking-glass bnhind, apparently then passing out of tho window. Spreat walked downstairs and into one of the lower roomß, where his strength gave way, and ho fell upon tho floor. Telophouo messages were despatched for a doctor and the polico, who arrived promptly. The bleeding was staunched, but the deceased rapidly sank, and died, as befoi-e stated, about 11 o'clock at night. ' " It is stated that in his <Jopo3itions hoexoneratsz the Sandersons from blame, and says that he believes that Lquib fired the shot under the impression that tliodoorof tho room was locked, and that ho could not escape. Louis Sanderson, after being arrested was lodged in tho polioe cells, and although bail was offered by many of his friends, tho Magistrate did not feel justified in nocep'iug it, on uocount of tho seriousness of the oaso. _ It is stated that when tho deceased first lifted a weapon against acousod, some members of tho f&mily, thinking ho would do harm, telephoned for a policeman to come up. This probably explains tho message which tho polico first recoived, to the offect i that a madman was at largo in Pirio-stroot. Constable Huttou, who received tho message, despatched Constable Poley without delay, and tho latter officer calling in on tho way for Constable Madden, the two proceeded togcthoi' to the neighbourhood indicated, arriving in time to disport that the worst anticipated had happened. Deceased was about 5-t years of ago, and some years ago was employed as draftsman in the Government Survey Office. Ho was also well known in musical circles, excelling as an oboe player, but pf Jato years he had not takon any active uait in musical affairs. Ho was, as before stated, very eacontrio at times, and was subjeot to fits of opTlopsy. About a month ago he was seized with a fit in Piricstreot, and was treated at tho Hospital. Louis Albert Sanderson, the accused, is 28 years of ago, and has been for many years in the employ of Messrs. J. E. Nathan & Co., as clerk. His brother, Ernest Valentine Sander&on, is a clerk in the Australian Mutual Provident Society. Both are wellknown athletes. Mr. C. P. Skorrott (of Brown, Skerrett and Dean) has been retained for the defence. Dr. Cplljns raado a pott-mortem examination of tho body this'nlqining, in view of the inquest, which is to take place ap th.o Cambridge Hotel lit balf'past 10 o'qlock to.-indr.-row morning. THE ACCUSED IN COURT. Louis Albert Sanderson was brought before Mr. Martin, K.M., in tho Magistrate's Court to-day, and was formally oliargod with having feloniously, wilfully, maliciously, and with malice aforethought killed and murdered Wjlliam Walter James Spreat. Mr. Skerretf appeared on behalf of the prisoner, who rotained a ca[m oppression, and gave the onlookers the impression that he considered be hod done nothing to be ashamed of. Inspector Fender briefly related the leading faots of tho unhappy affray, and baying remarked that the Corouor would bold aq inquest to-morrow, applied for a remand to Wednesday. Mr. Skerrett, replying to his Worship, said he had no objection to a remand, and did not under the cirouinstanoes intend to ask for bail, at any rato till after the inquest. The unhappy yonnar man, sinae his arrest, has maintained a remarkably calm demeanour. His painful position has, so far as is compatible with the polioe regulations, been made as little irksome as possible. He has, nnder the striotest polioe supervision, been allowed some little privileges, for whioh he has expressed his thanks He hss been allowed bis own blankets in the oell, and has been permitted to smoke occasionally, besides being supplied with books and a lamp. • In addition to his legal adviser tinting free and undisturbed access to the oell, Sanderson has been permitted to see his brother and also one or two of his intimate