HILLGROVE TRAGEDY
CASE DEVELOPING. SYDNEY, January 30. The evidence given at the inquest on the body of Mr Watson, the victim of the Hillgrove tragedy, showed that bad bl"od existed between deceased and the young man Skinner, who has been arrested on suspicion, owing to the latter paying attentions to Watson's daughter against the parents' wishes. The two men had frequent quarrels, and Skinner is known to have threatened Watson.
Found dead on the road within sight of his home, and with tho warm blood still trickling' from the fatal bullet wound, Samuel Watson, of Hillgrove, is supposed to have been tho victim of a murder in that town. What led up to the tragedy is not known. Watson had been delivering wood, and was returning home when the report of a. gun, followed by an ear-piercing scream, was heard by his wife, who was awaiting his home-coming. Fearing that everything was not all right, Mrs Watson rushed from off tho verandah of her house, and a short distance away came across the dead body of her husband. As far as is known Mrs Watson did not see any person who could have fired the fatal shot in the vicinity, or notice any signs of a struggle. The police were informed and they are at present endeavouring to unravel the mystery. The Acting Inspector-genoral of Police (Superintendent Sherwood) received a telegram from Senior Constable Debbie, of Hillgrove, but it contained only meagre particulars of the tragedy. The message was as follows:—" Apparently a case of murder. A man named Samuel Watson was found dead at 9.30 last night about 200 yards from his home. He was found on tho road leading to his home by his wife, who heard a shot and a scream previously, and went to investigate. Watson was returning to his home from Hillgrove, where ho had delivered a load .of wood." Mr Sherwood received a further telegram, which stated that Watson ht>d been shot with a smali-bore bullet, which entered tho head close to the right eye, and came out near tho left ear.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 3021, 7 February 1912, Page 27
Word Count
348HILLGROVE TRAGEDY Otago Witness, Issue 3021, 7 February 1912, Page 27
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