AN AUSTRALIA TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13194, 4 June 1906, Page 6

AN AUSTRALIA TRAGEDY.

MURDEROUS ASSAULT OX MARRIED

COUPLE.

THE CULPRIT SHOT BY POLICE.

Tiu: police authorities of Sydney on Monday of last week were informed that early on Sunday morning a married couple named James, residing on Nundoora Station,' 93 miles from Tarrawingee, near Broken Hill, were murderously assaulted by a discharged employee of the station, named Campbell. The latter was pursued by two consatbles. and when overtaken presented a gun at them. The officers then «red. seriously wounded him,, and took, him prisoner. SubInspector Sawtell received a message stating that Constables Williamson and McLean followed Campbell's tracks, and he was met north of Nundoora Station. Then, says the message, " when the police approached Campbell he. presented a gun at the police, who fired and shot him in the abdomen." No weapon was found in the house where the assault was committed. It. is assumed that James and his wife were struck with the butt of a gun. The gun when secured was found to be defective, and will not go off at the full cock. Campbell told James sonic two weeks ago that ho would do for* Mrs.

James yet. ■■•-•* Campbell died on Friday, and at tiro inquest Constables Williamson and McLean gave evidence that they followed Campbell from Nundoora station, and when they arrived at Strip Hut Campbell was in his hut in a bunk. He sprang up, seized a sun, arid pointed it at the constables. "Williamson said. "In a policeman;. droo that gnu." As he did not do so Williamson'fired a shot from a revolver over his head, and then two shots direct at Campbell. One of the latter shots wounded Campbell, arid he then surrendered. Deceased was about f SO. years of age. a very strong and muscular man. He would say nothing about his relations, but ho is believed to have come from Melbourne. Dr. Hartley, Government medical officer, said that apparently the bullet went in the abdomen and came out on the other side Both James and his wife were badlv hurt. James was now all right, and Mrs. James, though very ill, was likely to recover. ■' Deceased's dying depositions were put-in as evidence, also the- following statement he made to Constable Williamson :—'»The gun produced is the one 'I pointed at you. 1 knew it was' loaded. The loaded' gun was half-cocked. . You did not, in-my opinion, firo the first shot over mv head. I believe you did tell me. to put the gun down'after you fired the first shot.*" I did not fire to shoot you. I thought you were a man with the axe. I thought I had been told not. to give him (the man with the axe) a chance. The gun had a cap on. When I told you the gun. was not loaded I meant that it would not go off.'' ■ The coroner returned the following verdict:—"] find that deceased, Jack Campbell, at Tarrawingee, died oil May 23 from the effects of revolver shot wounds inflicted by Constable Percy Gordon Williamson in self-defence whilst in the execution of his duty at Strip Hut, Nundoora station, about 100 miles north of Broken Hill; and I further find that the constable was justified in so shooting." ..