ALLEGED MURDER.
FERGUSON COMMITTED
BACCHUS MARSH SENSATION
BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT (Received Sep. 18, 1.20 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Sep. 18. Thomas Ferguson has been committed for trial on a charge, of murder.
A sensational shooting fatality occurred at Bacchus Marsh on August 11, when a. labourer employed at Greystone Station fired several shots at hie mates, killing one and wounding two. Twelve men were working at Greystone repairing a dam. They had frequently teased Thomas Ferguson, who, it is said, was a. wee hit simple. Ferguson decided not to work, as he wanted to shoot rabbits. He was given leave by the contractor, and left camp apparently in the best of spirits. Just on knocking off time he appeared about 30 yards from the dam, dramatically waving a repeating rifle, but saying nothing. He raised it to his shoulder and pointed it at his work mates, who, thinking he was joking, merely laughed. Ferguson nulled the trigger, and William Smith, of Prahan, fell mortally wounded. Turning the muzzle in the direction of Charles McGowan, Ferguson fired and hit him in the shoulder. Then he shot Thomas Riddout- in the arm. Though bleeding freely, Riddout rushed at Ferguson, and grappled with him in an attempt to wrest the rifle away. A fierce struggle followed, wherein the other workmen joined. Ferguson was overnowered and handed over to the police. UF was later charged with murder. His three victims were married men.
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Bibliographic details
Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 September 1925, Page 9
Word Count
237ALLEGED MURDER. Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 September 1925, Page 9
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