MURDER OF A CONSTABLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12418, 30 July 1902, Page 5

MURDER OF A CONSTABLE

THE QUEANBEYAN TRAGEDY.

'Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright. SYDNEY, July 29.

(Received July 29, at 10.45 a.m.) The coining plant belonging to" the perpetrator of the Redfcrn tragedy, fouiifl in the Surry Hills, was of a priniitivo character. Though the chase is keen no signs of the men have yet been discovered. The evidence at the inquest of the man who was mistakenly shot at Queanbeyan shows that a civilian named Hollingswoi'th had his finger on ~ the trigger of his gun, and was startled by the CAuio.-ion of the constable's revolver. Tho gun went oft accidentally, (Received July 29, at 10.43 p.m.) At the inquest on Heaps a.verdict whs returned that he was killed by a shot fired by Hollingsworlh, but the jury we're unable to sav whether as the result- of an accident or otherwise. Particulars of the shooting of Constablo Guilfoyie show that he was on duly at 0.30 p.m. on the ]9tli inst. near the boundary of Redfoarn and Darlington, v.-lieii he heard Mrs Gardner, who keep.'-, a shop in Ivy street,' instructing her son to run after a man who had just passed a counterfeit halfcrown in her establishment. Guilfoylo took the v/oman's case in hand, and, accompanied by the hoy, endeavoured to trace the man, bit without success. They were reluvning when a daughter of Mrs (lardner informed them that the man was in the shop, of Mr .1. Falicy, grocer, at the corner of Ivy street. When (tuilfoyle and the hoy recrhed Ihe shop they found that the man and a. companion had walked down Caider' road, just oulside Fahey's shop. Guilfoyie met Constable Maher, who was not on duty, and enlisted his services. At • the corner of Calder road and Shepherd street is a shop kept by Mrs Chandler, in which one of the men had, a few moments before the arrival of the oflieen, been successful in tendering a ctunterfeit halierown on purchasing a box of matches. A little further on Guilfoyie and Maher noticed two men answering the description of thorn they were in search of. The men were standing under a treo engaged in conversation, and did not to get away as the constables approach'cd. Guilfoyie went up to the taller of the two,men and asked his name. The man replied'that it was Wilson. Maher turned his attention to the other man, and drew near with the object of arresting him. Before Mah'er eoiild get his hand on his shoulder the man, who had his hand in his overcoat-pocket, drew a revolver and fired. Maher fell to the ground wounded in the right arm. Almost simu!- . taneously two shots were in rapid succession fired by the other man at Guilfoyie, who uttered a groan and dropped on the. foolpath. Valid;, on attempting to rise, was again firwl at by hie assailant, tho bullet taking effect in his right shoulder. Once, more lie fell to tho ground, and while fallin" ' turned his head sliphfly to the left, when (lie turd bullet grazed his chin. Tho rullians tlien made a liasly departure. . They ran along Shepherd street, and in ti'irir : basic knocked down .Mrs li.irnard, who was out on a snopping expedition. This woman, up soon as she got to her feet, realised tliaf something serious wronjf, and on a s coi'[ainiii<f that two constables hud been phot she rardn after the men, whom she kept in sight for nearly a quarter of a mile, but, she. lost sight j of them as they entered the Newtown road. The noise of the shooting-attracted Ihe aHention of the reHdents in the immediate Viciiiity, and help for (lie wounded oflicerswas speedily procured. The actual shooting appears to have been witnessed by William Slater, a young man, who at the'timo was seated on the dcorslep of his parents' house, I some 15 yards away. Ho heard tho reports of five revolver shot®, three of which were fired at Maher and two at Guilfovlc. The whole affair occupied only a few moments. On the ruffipiis running away Slater went over to the wounded constables,.and Seniorconstable Wilson, on hearing tiie shots, also hurried to tlio spot, lie lurned his attention to Guilfovle, who he discovered had been phot in the left breast and abdomen, while others looked after Maher. Guilfoyie appeared to be lifeless, and as quiekiv as nossil.le he was taken to the Prince Alfred Hospital, whero the medieal men pronounced mm dead. A few minuto later Maher arrived at the hospital. Examination showed that he had a bullet, wound in the right arm, another in the shoulder, and an ahrawon on the chin. Constable Ginlfoylo was years of age. and joined the New South \Valcs police fcrcc in ISBS. He leaves a widow in delieale health. Maher is progressing as well as can be expected. |