THE ASSASSINATION OP MB DAVID M'KELLAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2013, 22 September 1892, Page 13

THE ASSASSINATION OP MB DAVID M'KELLAR.

Through the kind permission of Mr E. J. Spence we are enabled to publish extracb3 from a letber received by him from Mr E. F. Black, giving particulars of the cold-blooded murder of Mr David M'Kellar near Musquiz, Mexico, on bhe night of bhe 29th July lasb. Mr Black writes as follows : — '

On Thursday, 28th ulb., at 6.30 a.m., Mr M'Kellar lefb here on horseback for Musquiz, aboub 13 miles away, to transacb some business, one item of which was to deliver an account and letter to a Mexican sbockowner, asking setbloment on account of cabbie trespass. He carried no revolver or protective arms of any kind. Being delayed, he stayed in town all night, and did not leave unbil next eveniDg,* 29bh, at 6.30, Charles Creswell and Ernesb Delamain seeing him away. On Saturday, morning news was brought into town at 7.30 by a farmer that Mr M'Kellar was lying dead' on,the road aboub three miles oub of town. The bearer of the news was sent here to advise Mrs M'Kellar, and Dr Berchelmann and a judge left bo bake Mr M'Kellar inbo town.

They found him lying on his back with his hand over his heart, having^anparenbly died a nabural death, no sign of struggling or disfigurement beiDg visible. A brief examination, however, showed that he had been shot from behind, the bullet entering under the right seventh rib, having severed the main artery aud cub the hear bf thus causing instantaneous death. His body was taken bo' a cotbage— the same he had lefb bhe previous evening. Immediately on receipt of the "terrible news Mrs M'Kellar sent a man for' Skeno [Mr M'Kellar's son] and me, we having left at 6.30 a.m. to take some stock to a pasture aboub eighb miles off. Another man was. sent for Mr Learmouth, he having recently removed to his own ranche, 17 miles away. Meanwhile Charles Delamain came out, aud Skcne and I drove in with him. We first went to the cottage, aud I was astonished to find Mr M'Kellar's features so composed and placid, there being no signs of suffering whatever. Mrs M'Kellar and the family drove in early on Sunday morning, bub were unable to see Mr M'Kellar, the coffin being already closed when wo arrived. After a shorb service the funeral lefb for bhe cemetery, and at 9.15 we "had placed the coffin in the vault and sealed tho entrance. All the British and American residents were present, and Skene, poor boy, the only relative. 1 little dreamt I should ever be one of such a small and sorrowful company to perform the sal rites. Mrs M'Kellar aud the girls waited until afternoon at Mrs Blake's (she is the wife of an Australian here), and wo all returned in bhe evening. That the deed was premeditated is evident from many things. Mr M'Kellar's ring, watch, and the silver in His pockeb,~niamounb 15dol, were untouched, and the conbents of his pockets were just as we knew bhey were when he lefb the? ranche. There is no doubt that the cowardly act was one of revenge, and was meant to be shown as such, otherwise the actual pc-rpebrator of the murder would have rifled Mr M'Kcllar's pockets, as he musb have come close up to him after firing the fatal shot, for a No. 44 Winchester cartridge case was found close to the body. It is easily seen that it" was carefully planned, an the road' in. many places ruus through thick scrub, but where bhe acb was committed it was not so dense, yet there were low thick bushes where a man' could effectually hide, and leading away feoni the spot were anumber of roads, by auyoue of which one could ••scape ; and more, they had chosen a stony placo where no tracks would be visible — all leading to the same conclusion— a carefully

arranged and premeditated cold-blooded murder. There was a new moon on the 23rd, and on the 29th ulb. Ib was a clear, moonlight nighb.

The authorities, usually most apathetic, grasped tha" enormity of the outrage, and, •acting from orders received from the State Governor, arrested a number of persons who were known to have had' differences with Mr M'Kellar regarding cattle trespass, and also anyone known to have travelled that road on the nighb of the 29th ult. It was elicited from one man that he had seen Mr M'Kellar lying there about 8 30 p.m. on that night ; but being afraid of advising the authorities he had kept silence. Mr M'Kellar's horse was found near home on Saturday, 30th, everything in proper order, even to tho letters and papers in an open kit hanging on the saddlo. There is nob the publicity given to the examination of prisoners which we are used to ; and ib was only on urgently requesting the Governor of the Stats to allow it, that Me&srs Delamain, Blake, and Learmouth were permitted to be present at all inquiries in order to know what was actually being done. At first it appeared as if the assassin would speedily bo brought to justice, but there seems to be a deadlock now, and the judges and police are nouplussed. There is nofc-the slightest doubt that the instigator of the murder is in goal ; bub being a man of means, aud of a fairly rich family, we are frightened that he may, by bribery, buy over the authorities. Such a thing is only too common here ; but, as this case is ono of national importance, and, also, as the re-elcctiou of the Governor hinges on tho conviction of the murderer and his accomplices, we are in hopes that justice will not be hampered. The British residents all through these Northprn States are greatly incensed that an old man who was doing everything he could for the advancement of the country, and who acted so justly with the Mexicans should be shot in bhis cowardly way, aud more so as he was known never to carry arm*. Already a petition sigucd by 40 Englishmen in Piedras and Negras, asking for protection for Mrs M'Kellar aud family, has been sent to the British Consul. Do not think, Mr Spence, that this is in any way connected with the revolution, of which, you hear more in tho colonies thau we do here. It is simply a revengeful act, inspired and'paid for by an unscrupulous villain.

Ever sinco settling here 13 months ago Mr M'Kellar had incessant trouble with hordes of trespassing stock, and tc derive any good from his land he was compelled to fence against them. The fences were constantly being cub and pulled down, and these cattle found in the pastures. To put an end to this Mr M'Kellar impounded all strangers from his pastures, and levied 250 per head on them, rendering accounts to those owners who refused to pay on receipt of the cattle. One owner, whose stock, to the number of over 4000 head, has had free pasturage here for the past eight years, and who was chirged for trespass on 494head, took up a defiant attitude, and it wa3 to get a final answer from him, before seeking recovery in the Monclova court, that Mr M'Kellar went to town on the 28th vlb The answer was written on the foot of Mr M'Kellar's letter, as he said to the interpreter that such a matter did not want fresh paper. He refused all liability on account of trespass. During the day of the delivery of the letter he came five times to the office of the interpreter, and inquired when Mr M'Kellar would leave town for the ranche ; and on this evidence he was refused bail.

Much sympathy has been manifested for Mr 3 M'KeJlar and the family by the English-speak-ing residents, and also by the Mwdc.ms, among whom they were held in the highest esteem. Telograma of condolence have also baen received from the consul in the city of Mexico,

and also from a prominent lawyer there offering the services of a reliable man to take the matter in hand.

More of the State authorities have since arrived in town, and seem prepared to sift the foul crime to the bobbom, bub ib promises to be. a tedious search.