STRANGE TRAGEDY

Grey River Argus, 31 March 1932, Page 5

STRANGE TRAGEDY

IN DUNEDIN SUBURB Young Man Shot by Another (Fer Press Association.. DUNEDIN, March 30. Tomahawk, a seaside resort near the City, was the scene of a tragedy, early this morning. when Findlay Douglas Buchanan, married, 25, a relief worker, was fatally shot, and Louis William. O’Connor, married, living at Anderson’s Bay, was arrested on a murder charge. 'the police were informed at 1.40 a.m., that the victim had been admit ie<l to hospital, with severe stomach wounds caused by a shot-gun, fired at dose range. He died at 7.45 a.m. When arrested, accused was at home, in bed. It is stated that the Buchanan and, O’Connor families are well acquainted/ Yesterday. O’Connor, who had been out shooting, called at Buchanan’s house, at midnight, obtained a cigar-, ette, and, after a friendly conversation was advised by Mrs Buchanan to go home. He went, but returned later, v.hen Buchanan was in bed. Buchanan answered his knock, and his wife heard a shot. She found her husband lying inside the door. He was conscious, but was unable to speak. O’Connor was standing alongside, with the gun.

No motive for the alleged act is at present ascribed, but it is suggested that O’Connor had been drinking. He appeared on the murder charge this morning, and was remanded until Tt is stated that O ’Connor called at W. J. Taber’s store near Buchanan ’s, for cigarettes which were refused. He returned, evidently after the tragedy for his hammering on the door left blood stains. Taber threatened to come out to him, ■whereupon O’Conner is alleged to have said, “Come on out. I’ll fix you as well.”

Taber threatened to call for the police, and accused dropped the gun on the verandah and decamped.

Accused is an unemployed carter Tho* victim was an unemployed bar