FATAL REVOLVER DUEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19783, 2 November 1927, Page 15

FATAL REVOLVER DUEL.

SENSATION IN !JWO MEN FIGHT TO THE DEATH. END OF "SQUIZZY" TAYLOR. Leslie (" Squizzy ") Taylor, aged 45 years, a well-known Australian criminal, and John Cutmore, aged 38 years, were killed, and Bridget Cutmore, aged 58 years, his mother, was wounded, in a shooting affray, which took place at a house at Carlton, Melbourne, early last Thursday evening. It is believed that the two men fought a duel with revolvers, twelve ehots being fired. Cutmore had been ill with influenza, and Tuylor visited his home about 6 o'clock with another man. It is believed that a quarrel arose between the men, and that, both drawing revolvers, they commenced shooting. Cutmore was shot through the heart and hand, and •was killed instantly. Taylor received several wounds, from which he died shortly afterwards in hospital. In the course of the affray Mrs. Cutmore intervened, and she was shot through the "" right shoulder. The tragedy was evidently the culmination of a bitter feud between the two men. Accompanied by another man, Taylor entered the house where Cutmore was lying in bed suffering from au attack of influenza at about 6 o'clock. According to statements made to the police, o'.ilv a few words were spoken, and these were indistinguishable. The attention of Mrs. Bridget Cutmore was attracted by the report of a revolver shot. Other shots followed in quick succession.

Take Me To Hospital, Hurrying to the room Mrs, Cutmore eays she saw tho two men, ona of whom was holding a revolver. Her son had not left his bed. As she stood in the doorway she received a shot in the right shoulder. Although in a dazed condition, she recollects that Taylor left the house by the front door, while the second man ran into the back yard, leaving by a gate leading to a lane. Taylor staggered toward a car which he had left waiting in the street. < As he stumbled out into the street Taylor exclaimed: "I am shot, take me to hospital!" His companion helped him into the car and told the driver to hurry to St. Vincent's Hospital. The car was delayed for some, minutes in a traffic crush at a street intersection. Apparently disregarding the serious condition of his friend, and fearing possible police intervention, Taylor's companion opened the door of the motor-car, and jumping out, said: "You had better see this through yourself." Taylor's companion disappeared down the street, but, realising that no time should be lost in obtaining medical assistance, the driver hurried to the hospital. Taylor was assisted into the casualty ward, where he was found to bo unconscious. His death occurred about 20 minutes later.. An examination showed that- Taylor had received a bullet wound on the right side below the ribs. Jealousy Over a Woman. Beyond the fact that the shooting was the culmination of a bitter feud between Taylor and Cutmore nothing is known. It is understood that jealousy concerning a woman was nlainly the cause of the enmity between the two men. Cutmore, who was well known to the police, left Melbourne some months ago, and, with his wife, took up residence in Sydney. He returned to Melbourne on / tho Sunday before the tragedy with his wife and went to live with his mother at Carlton. It is known that Cutmore visited the Richmond Racecourse in company with a man, who is Said to have occupied a room as a lodger in his mother's houseSince then, however, he had been confined to his bed with a severe attack of influenza. It is presumed that Taylor, hearing of his return from Sydney, set out with the definite object of locating him. ✓ " Squizzy " Taylor's Becord. ; 'Squizzy" Taylor was a notable figure in criminal history for many years. His first conviction in Victoria was in 1905, when he received a reformatory sentence for larceny. Apart from other matters, Taylor, with another man, was arrested on a charge of the murder on February 28, 1916, of a taxi driver named William Haines. Both men were then under sentence of 12 months for vagrancy, and after a long and exciting trial, during which - Taylor burst into tears and exclaimed that he had not murdered anyone, the accused were discharged/ The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. It was claimed that the identification of the accused had not been proven.