OUR MELBOURNE LETTER

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 53

OUR MELBOURNE LETTER

SUNDAY TRAINS. CFbom Ora Own Correspondent.) RAILWAY MAN'S LAPSE.

A painful sensation was created in tht Railway Department on Saturday by the arrest of Mr James Walsh, the accountant; of the department. Of all the officers of the headquarters branch none was more popular than Mr Walsh He has, by virtue of his position, been receiving the tender deposits en railway contracts, and it is now stated that the commissioners ■have discovered irregularities extending back over 10 or a dozen years. Mr Walsh, who had 39 years' service, was 56 years of age, and married. He has been acting " accountant for some time, and only last week was gazetted accountant at a salary of £600 a year. In a few years he would have been entitled to retire on a pension of £400 a year.

MURDER AND SUICIDE. At Quambone, near Coonamble. in the heart of New South Wales, two dreadful tragedies were enacted last week. On the Sunday night a man named George Lorie, at the Shingle Hut Hotel, fired at a man named Harris — for what reason is not stated, — and shot him through the hand. He took to the bush, and next morning arrived at the <,>uilbane Station^ owned by Mr Patrick Veech, a well-known squatter. According to rhe first accounts Lorie, without any warning or provocation, fired on Mr Veeca and shot him dead, and again took to the bush. . A large force of police was immediately despatched to hunt" the murderer down. Lorie was kuown as a sheep; and cattlestealer, and in one case, in which he served , a long term, Mr Veeoh was the chief witness against him. That was the only reason wihich could be assigned for the and it was said that he had been heard to threaten Mr Veech from the dock. In two days the police came up with Lorie, about 15 miles from the scene of the murder. When he i-eoognised that escape was hoiDeless he drew a knife and cut his throat.* In his rifle magazine were found three bullets with the tops flattened —in order that they might kill, and not pass through the intended victim. -The inquest on Mr Veecn, held tha* day, and a written confession found on the murderer gave a somewhat different account of the murder of Mr Veech. The testimony of a station hand was that Mr Veech had "entered the men's hut, and taken a seat at the door, when Lone rushed m , and struck him down with the butt of his rifle. The medical testimony was that Veech's skull was fractured. . In the eonfesion found on Lone he puc all the blame on a woman with whom tie had lived. The document went on: — I was so much off my head that I did not know whether I bit or not. I also fired at Con Veech, but dp not know whether I hit him or not. I then lost my head and ran up the creek, where there is a hut. I saw old Veech sitting down. I tried to fire onto, but the rifle would not, go off. I then bit him with the stock, but I do not know whether 1 killed him or not. I never dreamt of doing what I have done, but after firing after — J then went to Veech's. I did not take revenue for past wrongs, and getting me ioui years I forgave that, for my own good as wel, as his, but this time when he got me com, mitted, he assisted her in every way to ge, me into more trouble. When I came horn; from Coonamble I found everything gone. : started to look where the stock was. I fount the sheep, cattle, and pigs over at Veecti s He had bought of her, sympathising with ne? in every way, and against me. Ido not kno* for what reason, except I had talked, aboiu him. I hope the world will treat these peopif Letter than it has me. I am sincerely sorrj for all happening. May God forgive me. George Lorie.

P.S.— l hope I will die soon,