WOUNDED BY REVOLVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19524, 31 December 1926, Page 14

WOUNDED BY REVOLVER.

POSTAL OFFICIALS SHOT. DISMISSED EMPLOYEE'S ACT. SUICIDE BY ASSAILANT. [from our own correspondent. ] ' SYDNEY, Dec. 24. ' Once the larger capitals of Australia — Sydney and Melbourne —had almost a monopoly of violent crimes, but in the last few years, the other Stato capitals, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Hobart, havo provided similar tragedies—perhaps evidence of their growth to large cityhood. Nothing more sensational has ever been reCorded in either Sydney „or Melbourne, than the mid-day shooting of two highplaced post office officials in Adelaide, by a dismissed clerk, and the hatter's suicide before the horrified gaze of scores of people.

The shooting occurred shortly before one o'clock last Friday. 'lhe victims were Mr. James Mason, head of the postal department in South Australia, who was critically wounded, and Mr. F<. J. Dobel, head costing clerk, who was also seriously wounded. Their assailant was Jame§ Hannigan, who had been formerly a temporary clerk.

Hannigau had been employed for about two years in the engineer's department. AbOut eight months ago, he threatened Mr. Dobel and a woman employee with a revolver and was then transferred to tho department's workshops. On Thursday, he assaulted a boy apprentice, and on being reprimanded, kicked the sectional officer. For this he was dismissed, Mr. Mason sending confirmation of the sectional officer's action by telephone. Hannigan was told to call for the pay due to him on Friday, and early that morning he interviewed Mr. Dobel. He called again about half-past eleven, and was told to return later for his pay. Hannigan Produces a Eevolvcr.

Shortly before one o'clock, Hannigan returned and received portion of his money, • and was advised to go to the cashier's branch for the. remainder. A minute or two later lie. reappeared .on the landing outside the office and walked into the ofhee where a large number of; clerks of both sexes were working. Approaching Mr, Dobel, Haunigan pulled out a service revolver and fired two shots point.:blank at him, both taking effect. ; ■ : '

Aghast ats the-occurence, the occupants of the loom* saw Hannigan make aggressively toward another officer's room, and failing to open the door, fired through the frosted glass porfaon of the door, ih the direction- of the official's chair. Fortunately, the official was absent. Otherwise, subsequent investigations, showed, ho would-have been sitting directly in the- path of the bulley. With two undischarged cartridges still in his revolver, Hannigan ran quickly out of the office, down a flight of stairs, ' and along-the corridor ' approaching the gallery running round the main hall of the post office, on to winch Mr. Mason's room opened. Mr. Mason was at that moment leaving his office for lunch. Hannigan-'- fired "at him ,and the bullet took effect over the heart. Mr. Mason collapsed.

Hannigan continued to the ; ground floor, and was about to leave the building, when, Mr. John Beare, the State wireless inspector, flung himSelf on him, arid witt great, courage,,, pinioned-, his arms r "although" he. was much smaller than Haruiigan. The alarm had already been. ..sent to the police, but" before the latter arrived Haiinigan jerked his revolver . up-. ward and shot himself through the'he<uf from below the jaw. He fell dead before the horrified gftze of score's, of passer'sl,y- . , ivMr. Mason's Long Career. ' Mr. Mason, who is 64 years, of age arid was due to retire. next year, was made Deputy-Postmaster General -in -.South Australia last year, and before that -lie had 47 years' service with the post office in Victoria. Hannigan was, about -38 years of : age. He. had been in Adelaide aboiit four years. Before, the war, be was a member of the Royal 'lrish - Constabulary, and afterward had service- in Chin,a. He served with British forces during the war. He was a member of - the Adelaide police forca before entering the post office, and is said to have suffered from shell shock. 'He was of an erratic and at times violent nature. A powerful man, lie-..t00k a prominent part in athletics a year or so a S O - y