TRAGIC REVENCE

Grey River Argus, 12 August 1925, Page 5

TRAGIC REVENCE

THREE MEN SHOT.

BY

WORKMATE WHO WAS

TEASED. MELBOURNE, Aug. 11 A sensational shooting fatality o?eurred r.t Baeehus Marsh, when a labourer, employed at Greystoae Station, fired several shots r.t his mates, killing one and wounding two. Twelve men working at Greystone, repairing a dam, had frequently teased Thomas Ferguson, who, it i.s said, wr.s a wee bit simple. Yesterday Ferguson deeded mt to work, as he wanted to sh >ot rabbit - He was given leave by the contractor, n.id left ei.mp apparently in the best of spirits. Just on knccl.iiig <.ff tin e, he appeared about thirty yards from the dam, dramatically wav tig his repeating rifle, but saying nothing. Ho raised it lo his shoulder, and pointed it at his workmates.

Thinking he was joking, the men merely laughed, but Ferguson pulle t the trigger, and William Smith, of 1 r.ihrun, fell mortally wounded. Turning the muzzle i.i the direction cf Charles McGowan, Ferguson fir. d, amt hit him in the shoulder, and then sh .t Thomas Riddout in the arm. Though bleeding freely, RidiLut rushed at Ferguson ami grappled nltn him i.t an attempt to wrest the rifle away. A fierce struggle followed, wherein other workmen joined. Ferguson was overpowered nnd handed to the pol.ee. Later Ire was charged with murder. The three victims are married men.