SHOT TWO, THEN SUICIDED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 30, 4 January 1927, Page 7

SHOT TWO, THEN SUICIDED.

DISMISSED EMPLOYEE'S REVENGE. SENSATION IN ADELAIDE. SYDNEY, Dec. 24. Amid scenes of wild excitement, an employee recently dismissed from the postal service in Adelaide attempted to murder the Deputy PostmasterGeneral of South Australia on Friday. He succeeded in wounding the head of the service, shot another official, and when cornered himself committed suicide. It was a most dramatic occurrence. Air J. Affison is South Australia’s Deputy Postmaster-General, the G.P.O. being in King William street. Early in the afternoon a man dressed in a black suit was noticed hanging about tho corridors, but it was not suspected that he was there with any sinister purpose in view. Nevertheless, ho followed Mr Mason when he left his room and entered an open office. The disgrunted ex-employee was James Ilannigan, and he rushed into the costing room, which Mr Mason had entered. Hannigan had a revolver in his hand, and he fired at Mason’s heart. The bullet fortunately struck the chest bone, and was deflected towards the arm. Mason fell backwards.

Immediately ho saw his victim fall, Hannigan wheeled round menacingly in time to see Mr E. J. Dobel, chief costing clerk of the G.P.0., making for him. Hannigan fired two shots at him. both piercing his groin. And when Dobel fell Hannigan fired two more shots promiscuously about the room to frighten the other men working there. One missed the head of a typist by a few inches, and she promptly fainted. Apparently satisfied with his afternoon’s work, Hannigan left the costing room and made a rush to escape. He was pursued, of course, and as he was running through a corridor on the ground floor. Air J. Beale, wireless inspector, was informed what had happened. He chased Hannigan, and jumped on his back. They wrestled along the corridor and out into the street, where Beare threw Hannigan and fell on top of him. Realising that he was caught. Hannigan fired another shot- into his own head, and was dead in a few moments, f

The Deputy Postmaster-General was admitted to a private hospital, where his condition, though serious, is not regarded as critical. Air Dobel is also in hospital. Hannigan, who is about 40 years of age, was married, and had one child. He hud been employed in the accounts branch of the G.P.O. from duly. 1923, until last Thursday, when he was dismissed.

It is Stated that several months ago he caused a sensation in the accounts branch by flourishing a revolver and threatening to shoot another employee, who had offended him in some manner.