Terrible Tragedy at Tophouse.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 17, 9 October 1894, Page 2

Terrible Tragedy at Tophouse.

DOUBLE MURDER AND SUICIDE. A MADMAN'S ACT. A rumor was current in Nelson on Friday of a terrible tragedy at Tophnuse. Early in the morning an alm.st unintelligible message was received from the wife of the operator stationed there, telling of shots being fired. Later telegrams showed that a man named Bateman, who had been left in charge of the accommodation house during the absence of the proprietor, had shot a man nomad Lane and tbe telegraphist Wallie, and afterwards shot hirmelf on the verandah of the hotel, pulling the trigger of bis gun with bis toe, A telegram received, in Wellington from Mr Gannaway, of the Telegraph Department, Nelson, mates that Ba'eman, wbo was temporarily in charge of the accommodation houfe, told Lane that Wallis wanted to see him on the Wairau road. Lane accompanied him up the road about 2QQ yards, and Bate* man then slot him in the bend. At 8.30 p.m. Bateman wei-t to the telegraph office and invited Wallia to go bare shooting, Wallis said ib was too dark, but Bateman taid he knew where to get harep, and there was sufficient moonlight to see tbe animals, Wallia went away with Bateman, who (hot him witlin 100 yards of tbe office. The murderer «ppi>ars to have taken the cover off Walli&' peny and placed it over bis victim's body, after which be returned to the accommodation house, where tbe governess was found. The yonjpg lady went, down to thd oftjee accompanied by a little girl, but fcateman followed her and made her return, threatening to sboot her unless she retraced her srep9. She, however, got away, and she and Mra Wallis locked themselves in tbecffi.e. At daylight Batem<m was seen walkng up and dow.» in front of the accom*. modation hou.?e. During the morning Mr B. Kerr find ano'ber settler anived on the siene, and went towards the accommodation house, but being threatened went bftck to the otHoe. Abont 2 in the afternoon a report was hearJ, apd it was found that Bateman ba«i slot himeelf. A letter was written by Bateman on Sunday last bidding his sister farewe^, and it is evident thtt the d< c I was premeditated. It is thiught that ho was jaalouß o| Lane, and that be filled Wallis in brdey to prevent the news of the murder flf Lane being wired a* ay. An inquest was held on Saturday night, whan a verdict was returned jo accordance with th<3 fvre^'ipg forth