FEUDING BANK TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 20988, 30 December 1931, Page 6

FEUDING BANK TRAGEDY

HOW FATAL MISTAKE OCCURRED [Per United Press Association.] FEILDING. December 29. The fatal mistake by which - Bruce M'Corkindale, aged twenty-two. an officer of the Bank of New Zealand here, lost his life last night in tragic circumstances, being shot by J. L. Burton, a fellow-officer of the bank, is thus accounted for. Burton, who fired the fatal shot, had been acting as teller at the bank. He usually slept on the premises, and has been in the local branch for four years. He is about twenty-five years old. He had gone to Opunake for the holidays, and had arranged with Bruce M'Corkindale to sleep at the bank during his absence. He returned as arranged last night, but did not think it necessary to inf onn M'Corkindale. The latter telephoned to the bank at 9.45, but Burton did not reach there till 10 p.m., and therefore missed the call. M'Corkindale searched for the door key in a secret hiding place arranged, but could not find it. He got no response to his door knock, probably as the bedroom is upstairs. He made inquiries in town with a view to ascertaining if Burton had returned, but learnt nothing, and concluded that he had not. Therefore it was his (M'Corkindale’s) duty to occupy the premises. He was pulling down a window when the noise awakened Burton, who seized a revolver and fired at the window. He did not-know the effect of the shot till the policeman, rushing up the alleyway, informed him. He then found to his horror that he had killed his chum.

Burton, whose parents reside at Opunake, was appointed to the Feeding branch four years ago. M'Corkindale joined the bank at Foxton. Ho was afterwards stationed at Woodville, and then at Feilding, where he acted as ledger-keeper. Burton to-day was showing the effects of his experience. He is suffering from extreme distress of mind.