THE FATAL MISTAKE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, Issue LVII, 13 April 1910, Page 5

THE FATAL MISTAKE.

SHOOTING OF MICHAEL QUIRKE.

HOW THE TERRIBLE AFFAIR

HAPPENED;.

"Another terrible tragedy, an incident in .the Powelka affair, occurred about 7.30 o'clock, at night," writes a New Zealand Times correspondent, "when Mr Michael Quirfce, of Pahiatua, being mistaken for Powelka, had his brains blown out at Terrace End. "Mr Quirke, who. was a brother of. Detective Quirke, of Palmerston North, came over from. Pahiatua "fco> assist in the hunt in these parts for the chief villain of the hour. It was reported that Powelka had', been seen, in the vicinity of Terrace End, and several of the searchers were watching for him in the locality.. GHASrLY WOUND IN THE HEAD.

"Mr Overton, licensee of the Princess Hotel, near Terrace End, and Sergeant Bowden, o£ Feilding, saw Quirke walking along the footpath. They say they challenged, him, and that he failed to reply, but walked on flourishing a- revolver in his hand. He then put his head down, and Overton fired and dropped him with, a ghastly wound in the upper part of his head. "Constable Tanner and Mr John Manning were among the first on the scene. They say Quirke was stone dead when he was picked up. He was placed in a motor car, which bore him to the hospital. tit "Sergeant Bowden, however, declared in the lobby at the police' station that it was only a scalp wound, and he tried fco urge Tanner, who was Quirke s friend, to look on the brightest side. Tanner refused to entertain such talk. "WHO SHOT HIM?"— "I DID." "When the shot was fired several rushed to. the scene, and seeing the man (supposed at the time to be Powelka) lying dead on the ground, called j out: "Who shot Mm?" "I did," said Mr Overton, excitedly, and then it was discovered that the victim was Mr Quirke. "The scene which ensued was awiul. "Mr Quirke was a quiet man, and very careful with firearms, displaying the caution which is always shown by those used to handling weapons. It seems inconceivable to Mr Quirke s acquaintances that ho would go about brandishing a revolver. Yet that is the story of his aggressor and the latter s companion. . , | "When they were coming over to talie part in the hunt Tanner begged Quirke i to turn back, but the civilian would not 'He was rather a determined man, and seems to have been having an independent search on his own account. SHOOKJNG^STOT^WEARING "He was nothing like Powelka, but the fact that he was wearing new legeines like those seen on the fugitive, added to the fact that he did not answer to the challenge, is said to have misled j the shootist and Bowden "The affair has caused a sensation of a very sickly nature, and the re is a tremendous crowd m the vicinity of the Excitement rising to great j PITCH. "The excitement of the day is rising to a great pitch. Everyone feels that ii is absolutely unsafe for anyone to move about except m the most thickly 1£ * 'Tile 6 whole town, almostj is armed, i and many irresponsibles must hare gU "As the majority of the populace are greatly excited, there is liable to be an accident, perhaps a tragedy, at any moment" INJUDICIOUS ARMING. "Sub-Inspector O'Donovan armed a number of people last night and to-day. It is felt that he has not done so judiciously. I have seen boys with guns, mere youngsters who should not be Susted with them If the .people are to be inspired with renewed confidence that they can go about in safety there mUStb T VETA°TIMR r QU%KE. The victim of the tragedy lived at Paliiatua, where he carried on a hairdressing'and tobacconist's business. He S ; single man, aged about thirty-five years, and his parents live also at laKtut His father, Mr P. Quirke, now farming, was formerly m the police force being stationed for many years on the Wes^t Coast of the Soul* Island. The unfortunate man made up his mind yesterday morning to see what was Bom" on in connection with the Powelka i chafe, and rode over the range from P.ihiatua. One of his brothers is Constable James Quirke, who was 011 duty in Lambton Quay when the bad news came- through to the police headquarters. Another brother is Detective Thomas Quirke, and ho has a third Lrotlier in Auckland. A sister is Mrs H Vile, cf Pahiatua.

Ovcrton, who shot him, was formerly an artilleryman, and centlv to take charge of the Princess Hotel, Palmerston North. H< i is .about tnirty-five years of age, well built, and a ver> popular man, always regarded as cool and level-headed. The inquest upon Quirke is to taite place to-morrow morning. It has , been proved that ho was shot through the forehead, not with a shot-gun, but with an expanding bullet, which tore off the • ack of his head.