THE SOUTHLAND MURDER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXI, Issue 185, 30 July 1895, Page 3

THE SOUTHLAND MURDER.

DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR. The Southern Standard supplies the following additional particulars regarding the shooting of a bailiff at Bali our, in Southland . — Andrew Middlemiss, bailiff, and Hugh. Stewart, of Gore, were sent to execute a distress -warrant on John Keown, farmer, of Balfour, and arrived at his place at three o'clock on Saturday morning. It was pitch dark, but Keown was roused up, anil came out with a gun. He fired, it is thought, over the heads of Stewart acd Middlemiss, who turned and Kode to Riversdale. Middlemiss came by train to Gore and laid an information— afterwards withdrawn —against Keown for firing with intent to wound. He went back to Riversdale by the two o'clock train, met Stewart there, and they proceeded together a second time to Keown's. They reached there about twenty minutes to five in the evening. Keown again came out with a C, and sa'd "If I cannot shoot i of you I will shoot one." Stewart replied, " Oh, Jack, you won't do that!" aud with that Keown fired. Stewart was ou horseback. •' Oh, Lord J" he exclaimed and placing his hand to his ear, he fell to the ground. Middlemiss then turned and galloped towards Riversdale. Someone called upon him to stop and help to pick Stewart up, but Middlemiss did not stop till he reached Riversdale. Stewart received the contents of the gun on the left side of his face, which was in a shocking condition. His jaw was broken, and his left ear and eye were very severely injured. Stewart fell in the mud of the road and, it is thought remained there for some time and was then dragged on to the grass or tussock, ard subsequently to an open shed or lean-to. Shortly before 6, Sergeant Fleming, of Gore, received a telephone from Middlemiss that Stewart had been shot by Keown, The Sergeant and Constable Ferguson at once armed themselves, drove to Biversdale, changed horses there, and proceeded to Keown's. Middlemiss was at Biversdale, and the police asked him to go on with them, and point out where Btewart was lying. This, however, Middlemiss refused to do, saying that he bad been up all night. The police reached Keown's about 1.30 o T olook

on Sunday morning, and were joined by Constables Herlihy (Waikaia) and M'Kenzie (Lumsden). Stewart was found lying on some straw and bags in the lean-to, bleeding freely. The night was bitterly cold. Inside Keown's house was a party sitting round the fire. Stewart was removed to a bedroom by the police, and Constable M'Kenzie arrested Keown. The latter, who was lying on his bed, offered no resistance whatever, and went quietly with the police, who took him to Lumsden. Sergeant Fleming found the gun broken at the small part of the butt, and the guard of the gun was found a little distance off, covered with blood, where Stewart was supposed to have fallen. The unfortunate affair arose out of a case recently tried in Gore S.M. Court, when Messrs Reid and Gray obtained judgment against Keown for repairs of an engine. Middlemiss and Stewart were sent out to seize Keown's horses by default, and hence the trouble. It is said that Keown felt very sore over the affair, and delayed paying the amount, though he was in a position to do so. Hence his quick temper got the better of him when the bailiffs were sent out. The judgment was satisfied on Monday afternoon. According to the Southland Times, Stewart, who was shot at about 4.40 p.m. on Saturday, remained where he fell until 11.30 p.m. in the frost and cold. Keown then retired to bed. Two men working on the farm, who were afraid to touch the wounded man while Keown was about, then took him to a shed, and made him as comfortable as they could. The police, on their arrival, removed him to Keown's own bed. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. The Mataura Ensign states that when John Keown was arrested he said : " I shot the right enough, but I must Have been mad when I did it. I expect I'll get my neok stretched for this." After Stewart fell Keown is reported to have savagely beaten him with the gun, and afterwards went towards his house. Just before entering die house, however, he noticed Stewart kicking, and said : " The isn't dead yet ; I'll get a pick and finish him." This he did not do, but went inside to bed. Stewart was gradually sinking all day on Monday, and died peacefully about 8.30 in the evening. It is extremely improbable that he made anj dying depositions, as throughout he showed a desire to shield Keown, Both were Orangemen. Stewart sturdily insisted that he had not been shot at all, but that the affair was all an accident, and occurred through his (Btewart's) falling fiom his horse. The only indication he gave of Keown's guilt was when, on being conveyed to JRiversdale, he pressed his hands to his right side and said: "Oh, how he kicked me."