SHOOTING AFFRAY AT ROOTY HILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11057, 8 May 1899, Page 6

SHOOTING AFFRAY AT ROOTY HILL.

A CLERGYMAN WOUNDED. Anna eleven o'clock on Thursday night, April 27, n young man walked into the Penrith Police Station, ami staled thai lie had shot his brother-in-law, the Rev. W. Witcombe, Hi Rooty Hill, New South Wales. Constable Connor was in charge of the station at the time, anil at first considered that his visitor was suffering from some hallucination. As ho. however, persisted in his story, the constable deemed it advisable, to take, his visitor to Sergeant Thorndike, who is tho officer in charge of the Penrith police. The young man then stated that his name was Kilgin .lames Price, and that he had recently nrrivd from Adelaide, where, he had been employed as a bank clerk. He had. he asscried, that evening shot the Rev. W. Witcombe at his residence, Islington, near HnOty Hill. lie volunteered a statement to the elfocl Unit on account of the conduct of his brother-in-law he came over to Sydney to protect the interest of Mrs. Witeonilie and her children. On Wednesday, the 191' i till., Price look his sister from Kooty Mill to Sydney, whither Witcombe had pine two (lavs previously. On Wednesday evening, as Witcombo had again returned to his residence, Price called upon him for the alleged purpose of obtaining a settlement for his sister. On riving at Islington he, iuiu-PYi r, found a neighbouring storekeeper named Veal on the premises, and was unable t,, obtain a private interview with his brother-in-law. He consequently left the liouso and ilitjiml that night at a boarding house in the vicinity. On Thursday afternoon he again called on Witcomhe, and found that Veal was still there. On being invited In stop to dinner, Price consented, and shortly aftorwards Veal led. Price then produced a document, in which it was stated that Witcoinbe agreed to allow his wife a certain settlement. He asked Witcombe to sign it, ami Ihi' latter. Price alleged, refused to have any further discussion on the matter. He ordered Price out of the house, and told him that if he did not go at once he would kick him on!. Witcombe, according to Price's statement, then left the room, and on Price following him turned round, and seized him by the throat. I'ri.-c said lie then drew a revolver from Ms trouser's pocket, and allot Witcombe in self-defence.

(In Thursday evening the Mr. Veal referred In railed at Mr. Witcombe's house, and found that gentleman suffering from two bullet wound-. Vial at once, communicated with the police, who, after sending for the nearest available' medical man, Dr. Sluddy, called in a justice of the peace to take the wounded man's depositions. Mr. F. Crcmricfc, .T.T., was soon on the s«mc, and look down the first portion of the statement of the wounded man, which was as follows:—"I, William Wilcombe, clerk in Holy Orders, believing myself to he dying, stale that on tho 27th inst., between seven and eight p.m., I was in my own house, with my brother-in-law, Kilgnr Price, when lie. produced a paper which lie asked me to sign, and 1 refused. The paper asked mo to make, provision for my wife and children, who are not living with me at present. 1 said, ' Here is their home; they are welcome to it. and I will make no other provision for them.' He then presented a revolver nt me and said. ' Will you sign the paper?' 1 said, ' No.' I then walked into the hall towards the backroom. He followed me and shot me. I fell, and then got up. He fired again, and I once more fell and became unconscious. I do not know where my wife and children are. They left last week while I was away in Sydney." ' Mr. Wileombc was in a critical state, and was not expected to recover. The wounded man was a student of Moore Theological College, and was ordained deacon in 1875 and priest in the following year. Ho was subsequently in charge of various country parishes, and in the year 1883 and 188* was in charge of Christ Church, St. Lawrence, Sydney, and was curate of St. James', Kingstreet, in the following year. Hi* last cure was that of St. Paul's, Lilhgow, in 1897. Ho is at present living privately at Rooty Hill.