4 LOVERS' QUARREL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11856, 7 January 1902, Page 3

4 LOVERS' QUARREL

A MELBOURNE SENSATION. Melbourne, December 28. A somewhat sensational shooting incident, which but for the merest chance would in all probability have involved a fatal result, took lace at about half-past eleven last night in a right-of-way off Moor-street, Fitzroy, near the northern-eastern corner of the Exhibition Gardens. A young man, named Frank Dunneman, who, it is stated, is employed in a produce store in Brunswick-street, at the time mentioned, met a young woman named ' Constance Ekins, of whom he is; said to be an unwelcome lover, and after a brief quarrel threw her down and fired at her from a revolver, inflicting a slight wound in the temple. The quarrel and the subsequent developments were witnessed by Mr. Joseph Levy, who, as well as both the parties, resided iii the vicinity. Mr. Levy says lie noticed Dunneman meet Miss Ekins as she" turned the corner from Nicholson-street into Moor-street. The man placed his hand on the young woman's shoulder, and spoke to her, calling her "Conny." They walked along a few yards, but it was apparent that Dunneman's presence was distasteful to the girl.: ? Suddenly she cried out, >" He's got a revolver." ' Levy thought she was mistaken, and did 1 not at once interfere. A moment later, however, he saw Dunneman roughly push Miss Ekins to the ground, and as she was about to rise the; man pointed a revolver at her, and fired point blank at her. Levy then rushed up, but Dunneman cried out, Keep clear! Keep clear!" and almost at the same moment fired two shots at the former. There are a network of narrow lanes in the vicinity, and dashing along one of these Dunneman disappeared in a. back yard. Levy and another man named Thomas McGregor followed to the gato of the yard, but on peering into the yard Levy was again fired at, but the shot fortunately missed. Dunneman was not again. seen. The landlady of the house in which he lived states that she was awakened by a man rushing through the place frsm the back to" the front, and it is thought that Dunneman escaped in this way. The Fitzroy police were apprised;'and made a thorough search of the neighbourhood. Up to halfpast one a.m. no arrest had . Been made. Of the five shots which Dunneman fired the only one to take effect was the first, which grazed Miss Ekins' temple. The wound is not a serious one. Miss Ekins is a variety artist, and recently returned from a visit to Broken Hill. It is said that Dunneman followed her to Melbourne from the silver city. '-■ ; Melbourne, December 30. The victim of the sensational shooting occurrence at Fitzroy on Friday night, Miss Florence Ekins, is progressing favourably, the slight scalp - wound inflicted not being considered dangerous. Frank Dunneman, who, after shooting twice at the unresponsive object of his affections and once at Mr. Joseph who sought to divert him from his homicidal purpose, fired two shots into his own forehead. At a-quarter to three a.m. Dunneman was arrosted by Detectives Carter and Cantlin, who found him lying under some bushes in the back yard of No. 11, Moor-street, Fitzroy, next door to where he lodged. , V He was bleeding profusely from the forehead, and ' a small six-chambered pinfiro revolver lay beside him. Five of the cartridges had been discharged, and one chamber was loaded. The detectives took him to. Dr. Hewlett, who forwarded him on to the.Melbourne Hospital. One of tho bullets was extracted at once, and the other, [ which was flattened against the frontal bone, was removed yesterday. Dunneman is not considered ■tobo ?in danger. He was' arrested on the • charge of, shooting at Miss Ekins with intent to kill her * and was placed under police guard. • 'He will also ; be charged with attempting to commit suicide. k Dunneman's violent outbreak appears to have been due to the fact that Miss Ekins had rejected an offer of marriage several times repeated by him; The young lady had captured his fancy while she was performing as a variety artist at Broken Hill. The letter stated that he could not live without Conny, whom he loved, and that he had resolved, rather than bo without her, to kill her and' himself. By the . time the letter was delivered, ho said, they . would both be dead. • - i:: .. Broken: Hilt,, December 29.. • The young man, F. Cecil. Dunneman, who figured in tho Fitzroy shooting affray, was till recently licensee of the Adelaide Club Hotel here, to which the Gaiety Hall' is: attached. Miss Ekins was known here as "Zoo Castles," a variety artiste. i Both she and Dunneman left for Melbourne a short time ago. ... .' -