THE BALFOUR SHOOTING CASE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10419, 23 July 1895, Page 2

THE BALFOUR SHOOTING CASE.

DSATH OF THE VICTIM,

(Fnosr Oub Own Coreespondknt. )

Invkrcabgiix, Jaly 22.

John Keown, wfco phot the bailiff Hoph Stewart when the latter, in company with another bailiff named Andrew Hiddlemißs, was going to seize stock on Keovrn'g farm, near Balfcur, on Saturday afternoon, was conveyed to Invercorgill by the first train-this* morning in the custody of Constable M'Keuzie, of Lumeden, and was Jjronghfc before Mr H. Wiisoß, J.P., charged with that he did, on the 20th day ef July, at Balf&ur, feloniously shoob, with a. certain gun, loaded with powder and divers leaden shot, at and against one Hugt^Stewart, with intent in so doing, and thereby feloniously, wilfully, and of •■ maiice aforethought, to kill and murder" the eaid Hugh Stewart. Sergeant Eiacdonnoll asked fur and obtained a remand until the 29th inst. • •

Keown, who is tin unusually stroDgly-built, powerful, and determined-looking fellow, standing. 6ft; high, gave his age as- 49. He is a naUre of the North of Ireland, sad is a married man with a, family. He is sa'.d not to be in very straitened circumstances, nofcwithsfcauding the recast occurrence would indicate such to be the case. Ha was known to be possrssed of a violent temper, but was Dot; it is 'alleged,- under tfce influence', of dtink when he committed the crime, and he spoke.freely and often of the affair to the constable in whose charge he was travelling. ' '.

Middleraies, who waß single-handed in charge of Keowu's property np to Saturday morning, says !hat Keown shot at him early on that dar, and that he then cle».rtd out and came to Gore to report the affair to the police. He was returning to Kedwu's with Hugh Stewart; as < assistant bailiff when the dastardly deed desoribsd by him yesterday took place. Stewart's condition cow is very critical, and ib is evident- some further iojury than the mere shooting has happened to him, either by the fall irom the horte, or by further injury inflicted by being beaten with the butt of. the g<Sn. The fact of the gun being broken when found lends colour to the Utter supposition. Middk-m'ss, as soon as the shot was fired, turned t»il and rode for dear life to Riyersdslo, a distancu of over 10 miles, though a telephone station and assistance were comparatively close at haud at Balfour. .Consequently*poor Stewart I wes left; without assistance and eipo>ed. to a cold, frosty air until some members of Keown's family removed him to a Bhed, where he was allowed to remain untilthe police arrived at 1 1 o'clock .ou Sunday morning, Stewart having been shot about 5 o'clock on Saturday evening. Dr Bauchop (from Lumsden) and Dr Donaldson (from Gore) arrived on the Bcerie on Suncjay afternoon, after which Stewart was removed' to Riversdale. Detective Herbert went from' here by the early train this morning, toping to be in time^to get the dying tnan'a depositions'taken; but Stewart was unconscious when he arrived, and has beeu bo ever "since. It is not expected he will live through to-night. Inspector Pardy came from fiunedin to Gore by to-day's express, and went on to Balfour by the .afternoon* train! I. ... ■ ■■.■'."■•. : .;/ : ■'

Stewart died at 8.30 this evening, 'having never regained coDSciousneDS. An inquest will probably be held on Weduesday. Keown will now be charged with wilfnlmurder. ... :

The Southland Times reports that the .victim of the outrage was a very old eettler, having been engaged in various pursuits in. the Gore and Waikaia districts for many years. His widow keeps the Gore Coffee Palace,; and is also well knot?n and fcigbly respscted;' ~ . ■ It ib stated th*t Middiemiss seized two of Keown's horses on Friday riight, but, being" ficed at, abandoned them, and gotiStewart to go with him on the fatal errand on Batnrday.