MURDER AND SUICIDE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1182, 26 October 1894, Page 21

MURDER AND SUICIDE.

SHOCKING TRAGEDY NEAR r CROMWELL. ; . The Commissioner of Police received a telegram on Sunday that a minor named John McKersie was shot dead near Bannockburn, about five miles from Cromwell, about 11 a.m..on Saturday. It is believed the deed was committed by another miner named Archie Blue. The body was found in Blue’s hut, and also a gun. The dead body of Blue was afterwards found in the tunnel of some old gold workings not far from the scene of the murder. Dunedin, October 22. Blue, who murdered McKersie, was a lunatic. McKersie was shot, the upper part of the skull being lifted clean off on one side. The charge of shot never scattered, being found in one solid lump at tLe t>ase of the brain. Blue was only discharged from the hospital a couple of days, suffering from insomnia. McKersie had gone to his hut to attend to'his wants. Having done, so, McKersie began to pan prospects. Blue, seeing. an opportunity, arose from bed, and, seizing a gun, discharged it point blank at deceased. The motive appears to be that Blue had an idea that McKersie and Wright, his partner, had taken up an adjacpnt claim, which Blue held belonged to him; ■ ~ ■ > ■ Later. • At the inquest on the remains of McKersie, the following verdict was returned That John McKersie met his death by a gunshot Wound wilfully inflicted by Archibald Blue/’ The inquest on Blue’s body will he held to-night. Dunedin, October 23. At the inquest it was shown that McKersie, Wright and Blue had tea together, but thought there was something the matter with it, and, having thrown out one lot, they tried another, which': was goed until sugar was put into it, but then tasted bitter' Guilford on Saturday had a drink of tea up there, and was affected by cramps. Blue had been bad for some time, and for the past fortnight had had very little sleep. It is the general opinion that he should not' have been allowed to go. by himself, as he was not capable of looking after himself. He cut off his dog’s head before he went to the hospital. McKersie and Wright had been looking after him, sowing his seeds, “cleaning his race, and attending to him in the house, besides giving him. his - medicine, &c. Evidently Blue had a ; grudge against the two men for going to work near him, as'he. thought it Was his property, they having to cut through his drains to construct their tailrace.