SHOTS AT DANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 15

SHOTS AT DANCE

THE EE WOUNDED TWO GIRLS AND A YOUTH ASSAILANT KILLS HfMSELF [from our own correspondent] MELBOURNE, Nov. 4 Two young women and a youth were wounded in a dance hall at Frankston on Saturday night, when Gordon Hart, aged 19 years, railway clerk, fired four shots from an automatic pistol. Hart's body, with a bullet wound in the head, was found later in a near by reservo. Frankston is a fashionable bayside resort, 26 miles from Melbourne. Hart's infatuation for one of the girls who was wounded is believed to have been the motive for the shooting. Those who were wounded were:—Miss Phyllis Harper, aged 20 years, wounded in hip; Miss Rose Brown, nged 20 years, wounded in- hand; and Peter Henry Mitehem. aged 17 years, labourer, shot through throat and log. Mitchein's condition is serious.

Automatic Pistol Secured There were 270 persons at the dance, which was a weekly gathering, organised by the Frankston Boy Scouts' Ladies' Auxiliary. Hart, who lived at Frankston, had been transferred recently to the Richmond railway station in the city. He went to the Frankston station, where he was previously employed, early on Saturday evening, and said that he wanted some brown paper. When he had left it was found that an automatic pistol, containing seven cartridges, was missing.

Hart apparently walked 200 yards to the Scout Hall and approached Miss Harper, with whom he had previously been friendly. Eye-witnesses said that he went up to her and said he wished to speak to her. He then drew the pistol and fired from a distance of 10ft. to 12ft., striking her in the hip. Discovery of Body

A second shot passed through the hand of Miss Brown, and splintered the back of a seat near the wall. Two more shots were fired by Hart. One entered Mitch-mi's throat nnd passed out at the back of his neck; the other struck Mitchem's left leg below the knee, chipping the shin bone.

Then Hart backed out of the hall and escaped. The two young women and Mitehem were rushed to hospital, and a search was made for Hart. His body was found on a cricket ground near by. A pistol was beside the body. It contained one live cartridge. Miss Harper's mother said: —"Gordon was absolutely infatuated with Phyllis, whom he met 18 months ago. I think that he spent most of his money on presents for her. He seemed to lose all reason, and Phyllis became alarmed of him. When he left on holidays a few weeks ago I told him to give up all thought of the girl, but after his return he was as infatuated as ever and .used to follow her wherever she went. Not Taken Seriously "On Saturday night he came to see her again," added Mrs. Harper, "but she left on her own in a bus. He stayed talking with me. and said, as he was leaving. 'lf I don't get her no 0110 else will.' However, he said it with a smile, and I did not take much notice of the words." Miss Brown said that she was entering the dance hall with Miss Harper about 9.15 p.m., when Hart appeared. He leaned toward Miss Harper and said. "I'll shoot you before the night is over." A quarter of an hour later he appeared at a side door and walked toward the two girls, firing without any warning.