THE BYRETON TRAGEDY

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12540, 29 June 1901, Page 5

THE BYRETON TRAGEDY

FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS. The last sad scene in the Eyreton tragedy, so far as the victims were concerned, took place yesterday afternoon, ■when their remains were interred in the Eyroton Cemetery. No one in the district was more esteemed than the deceased ladies, and the tragic nature of their deaths, with that .01 the little hoy, caused such a deep feeling of sorrow and sympathy with those bereaved 1 in such an awful manner that it goes without saying that the attendance at the funeral was very large. Towards two o’clock the hour fixed for the funeral to leave the farm, the settlers of the district began to arrive in large numbers, and' there were also considerable numbers of friends present from Christchurch, Kaiapoi, Rangiora and other centres. The three coffins were placed in the same hearse, and the cortege moved! away to the cemetery, about half a mile distant. There one grave had been prepared for tbo three, and as the people gathered round, one coffin after the other was lowered, that containing the remains _of the little hoy, covered •with white, being placed on the top. The service, conducted by the Revs J. Orchard 1 and C. H. Laws, was opened by singing the hymn “ Jesu, lover of my soul,” and throughout the service was exceedingly impressive and solemn, many of those standing around the grave being moved to tears. Before the closing hymn and prayer, the Rev J.’ Orchard said on such ai solemn occasion few words were necessary. Happily, this was a rare event to happen in a quiet neighbourhood, and all hearts were sorrowing at the dreadful occurrence. Mr Field!, who was one of the last in the house with the deceased, would like to say a few words after him. Sympathy for the bereaved! relatives was widely felt. In has hand he held a telegram from the Rev J. Luxfotd, of Invercargill, once in charge of the Kaiapoi circuit, which said; “Convey my sympathy to relatives and congregation at East Eyreton.” Speaking of the deceased . ladies, Mr Orchard said there were no more harmless people than they. Free from guile, they were the essence cf kindness. Their house was alway s . open to friend and stranger, and the ministers of their church were always sure of a kindly Welcome. He could only say good of them because there was nothing hut good to say. What had touched the hearts of the people most, however, was the death of the innocent little boy. If there was consolation in sympathy, the parents had it in a full measure. Dark, indeed, was the cloud that rested upon the stricken family, but, thank God, it was not without its silver lining. No one was better prepared for the heaven above than those who had been struck down without warning, and in this those left behind had their consolation. He prayed God to bless the family, and give them strength and designation under the bitter sorrow that had come to them. Mr Field, an .evangelist, who spent the Thursday evening with the deceased before their deaths, also paid a tribute to the kindness and truly religious lives of the ladies. He said that, in his travels through the colony, he had never met with greater kindness and sympathy with him in his work than was shown by the deceased. Speaking of M’LeaU, he said his conversation on the Friday morning was nob that of an insane man, and his deed must have been' that of » man roused with ungovernable passion. After the . Benediction had been pronounced those present took a last look ; into the grave, and many lingered round for some time, talking of the great scrsow that had fallen upon the Eyreton community.

The prisoner M’Lean, -who has confessed to having perpetrated 1 the Eyreton tragedy, has been visited in the Lyttelton gaol by Mr T. Small, who knew him when he was previously undergoing sentence for another crime. M’Lean expressed his contrition for the- crime, and expressed -a hope that the necessary Court proceedings would nob long bo delayed. The adjourned inquest will take place before Mr H. W. Bishop, coroner, at the Kaiapoi Courthouse on Wednesday at 9 a.m.

In yesterday morning’s issue the credit of having tracked the prisoner was inadvertently given to Detective Fahey instead of Detective Fitzgerald, who had a very rough time in.following M’Lean’s tracks. •