THE PATRICIDE.

Evening Star, Issue 7752, 25 October 1888, Page 3

THE PATRICIDE.

GHASTLY TRAGEDY AT SURBITON. MURDER AND SUICIDE. [From Our Special Correspondent.] London, September 7. One of the best known residents of the pretty riparian suburb of Surbiton was, till a week ago, Major Thomas Hare, a retired military officer of nearly three snore years and ten, who lived with his invalid wife and two erown-up sons in a comfortable house in St. James's road. The family were generally respected and liked for their quiet and unostentatious mode of living and kindly hospitality. There were four sons altogether. Two, as I have said, lived at home, and one—the eldest—was serving with his regiment in India. The second son, Gordon Hare, resided in London on an allowance Df a pound a week, and was understood by the neighbors to be the black sheep of the family. On Sunday week, after evening church, this young man made one of his periodical visits to St. James's road. He met his aged father coming home from service; and, addressing him angrily as " Major Hare," shot him dead on his own doorstep, immediately afterwards blowing his own brains out.

The 'Echo' says:—"For many years Gordon Hare had led a roving, unsettled life in distant parts of the world,_ and on each return home had pestered his father for a maintenance. This was afferded to him again and again; and on several occasions he had been sent abroad, but always returned after the lapse of a year or two, and renewed his importunities, accom panied with threats, and on some occasions with open violence. As already mentioned, Major Hare had for several years gone in bodily fear of his son. In November, 1885, the persecution of the latter became so intolerable that his father charged him on a warrant for his threats. The statement of the father on that occasion was to the effect that, during the previous five or six years, his son had spent severalthousandsof pounds, and had been a source of persecution to him and other members of his family. In 1885, only two days before Gordon Hare appeared before the magistrates, he went to 13, St. James's road, and threatened to put a bullet through his father's brain. Prisoner's defence was that he went to see his mother. He admitted that he was excited at the time, and said that if his father did not find him employment he would have to go to the workhouse or blow out his own brains and his father's too. In default of finding sureties he was imprisoned for three months, and when he was released it is alleged that he repeated the threat towards his father. When arrested on the occasion referred to, a revolver was found on him, and he used Bome violence towards the police." At the inquest on Tuesday last Mr Maynard Hare said the deceased was his brother, Gordon Horace Hare, and was thirty-three years of age. What occupation was he ? Had he pursued any ?—I cannot say that he had. _ He was sent out to America when I was quite a little boy, to attend to farming. When did he last see your father ?—On Friday night. My brother was then residing at Burlington road, Bayswater. On Friday I saw him and tried to avoid him. But I did speak to him. He mentioned then, in London, that he was coming to Surbiton. On Saturday I saw my brother again at my office. He said : "It is a matter of life or death," but made no threats.

Did you know ho carried a revolver ?—He showed me some revolver cartridges on Friday—as a threat, I should think. He wa3 quite''Hcber. Had he been accustomed to take too much to drink ?—Oh, no ! He was of an excitable temperament, especially on this one subject. What subject ?—His supposed wrongs. ne thought everyone should impoverish himself for him, and that his mother oujjht to supply him with money. He was bound over at the Police Court some time ago. Has he since that time come to the house? —Frequently. He was always violent. You don't know whether he was at the house on Saturday evening ?—No; he was not.

Mr M. Hare (continuing) said that on Friday night his brother came to the house, and his father led him down the steps and said: "You are trespassing here." Witness's brother replied: "I don't care for you and your police." There was no scuffle on Friday, as far as witness knew. On one subject witness's brother was a monomaniac—aa regards his own troubles and

money. A Juryman : What was he allowed ?—He was allowed a guinea a-week. We got him into an office, but he lost the situation. My brother told me that he w&s obliged to take a stimulating draught, aB he could not sleep. He told me on Friday that he got five hours' sleep by swallowing a draught; but then he took half the bottle, and the chemist said to him: "If you go oh like that I shall have to get someone to look after you." The Coroner: That was for nervous debility or something of that sort ?—Yes. Martha Hodsall, housemaid at 13 St. James's road, said she knew Gordon Hare, and had orders from her master and mistress not to admit him. She did not see him on Friday night when he called. "On Sunday evening I saw him at a quarter-past seven," she continued. " I looked through the hall window, but as I saw who it was I did not open the door, but informed my mistress. He was very quiet: tried the back door, which was also closed, and then returned and stopped in the porch afc the front door. I was looking out of the top window then."

Your master had gone to church '—Yea. Mr Gordon Hare walked up and down in front of the house, and then came back again. What time did the Major return from church ?—About ten minutes to eight. I heard the son call out "Major Hare !" as his father entered the gate. ' In an angry tone?— Yes. Was there any answer to that?— No. Directly after I heard the report. Could you see the Major?— Yes. I did not hear him call out. Then, when I ran downstairs, I heard another report. I came down with Mrs Hare, who opened the door. Mr Gordon Hare was lying on the top of the Were you frightened ?—Oh, yes. Major Hare was brought into the house. Did you see any smoke come from the portico after the shot ?—Yes, sir. ] Dr M. Owen Coleman said he knew Major Hare personally, but bad never seen the son. On Sunday night witness was at St. Mark's Church, where he saw the Major leave. Witness left shortly after, and was walking down St. James's road with a lady. He had just passed the Cottage Hospital, when he heard a pistol report. When he got to the middle of the road he saw a second flash, with an arm projecting from the porch of No. 13, and a hand holding a gun or revolver. Witness ran to the gate—thinking it was some person amusing himself—and shouted "What are you making that noise for ?" When he got to the gate he was conscious of something falling, and at once saw Major Hare on the steps, lying with his hj& n k to the door. In the meantime witness called out " Police! Police !" He examined Major Hare then, and found him bleeding profusely—dying, but gasping. He gave only a few gasps and died. Witness then examined Gordon Flare, and found him dead —killed instantaneously.

Did yon find a revolver in the young man's hand ?—Yes, his hand was across his chest, and was grasping the weapon. The bullet |n Major Bare had gone in between the

junction of the left collar bone and breast bone, and had, presumably, ruptured the aorta. . _,, As to Gordon Hare—what injuries ?—The revolver had been placed in his mouth, the roof of which was blown away. The bullet was imbedded in the brain. Police-constable Alfred Mitchener said he saw the two bodies lying on the steps. He removed the revolver from Gordon Hare's right hand. The weapon at that time was loaded in three chambers. The revolver, of the bulldog pattern, was produced, and handed round. Some letters found on Gordon Hare's body were also produced, but not read. They referred to applications made by the young man to different persons for money and other assistance. One gentleman, writing to the deceased, remarked : " It is hopeless to recommend you." The Coroner, in briefly summing up, observed that the less one said about the fearful tragedy the better. After a short deliberation the jury found that Thon-as flare was wilfully murdered by his son, Gordon Hare. The Coroner : And Gordon Hare ? The Foreman : We find that he committed suicide, and that he was actually insane. The formal verdict to that eS'ect was then given.