MURDER OF A CONSTABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2524, 30 July 1902, Page 15

MURDER OF A CONSTABLE.

A SUSPECT SHOT AND ANOTHER

CAPTURED.

THE WRONG MAX SHOT.

SYDNEY, July 2o

Two men suspected in connection with the shooting of Constable Guilfoyle were surprised by the police near Queanbeyan. The constable called upon them to surrender. One raised his rifle as the constable covered him with his revolver, but the constable shot him dead. The other was captured.

Until the police, who left Sydney to-night, arrive at Queanbeyan, the question of identity remains in doubt, but there are grave fears for supposing that Gnilfoyle's murder 'ias resulted in a second tragedy. A wire from Yn<ss to-night vtates that th^rc are good reasons for believing the m.vi shot and his companion were two chairmenders, who had been touring the district. They left Yass in the direction of Queanbeyan on Wednesday last, a description of the man shot supplied to the police tallying in j-omc re-.per.ts with one of tho'-e suspected of Giulfoyle's murder. It aKo tallies with one of the chairmenders named Heaps. lU> was accompanied by a youth, and the prisoner is a youth answering to the description of Heaps's companion, whereas the second Guilfoyle suspect is middle-aged. The police are still actively searching the Horasby district. There is considerable excitement amongst the outlying residents.

July 26. ~ There now appears little doubt that the wrong man was shot at Queanbeyan. His companion gives his name as John Nichols, of Cooma, and a wire from Cooma states that from the description given he undoubtedly is the son of a local tinsmith. He left Cooma some time ago in company with another young man on a trading tour.

The prisoner states that he aild his companion were at Yass on the day of Guilfoyle's murder. He does not knoir deceased's name. Constable Madden was accompanied by a number of civilians. It is alleged that when stooping over deceased to take his firearms from, him the constable's revolver wont off, an-d simultaneously a shot from a gun was discharged by the by-standee. This accounts for the number of shot wounds found in the body. The deceased closely reaSß.Wes one of the uus§injt §u§£§fitg.

The officers sent tp Queanbeyan failed to identify the dead man-^i one of the suspects. July 27. At the inquest at Queaubeyau the ( evidence of the officers from Sydney clearly established the fact that the dead man was not one of those suspected of the murder of Constable Guilfoyle. Constable Madden, who was with a party of five civilians all armed, surprised the camp. They deposed that when called upon to surrender the deceased sprang from under the bed clothes and grasped a gun. Witness was trying to secure his revolver, when it went off accidentally. Immediately after he heard a second shot. Next morning he examined two of the shotguns carried by the party, and discovered they had been recently fired. One — hi*> own property — he knew to be clean when handed to the civilians. The medical evidence proved that death was caused by a gunshot wound in the heart.

The inquest was adjourned till Monday. It practically established the fact that deceased was named Heaps, and resided near Sydney. He was travelling the country chair-mending. His companion, Nicholls, a boy of 14 years a resident of Cooma, was discharged from custody.