LONDON SHOOTING SENSATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 45

LONDON SHOOTING SENSATION.

ONE DOCTOR SHOOTS ANOTHER. (By Cable.) LONDON, January 14. Major Miles Charles Seton, of the Australian Medical Corps, was shot dead at the house of his cousin, Sir Malcolm Seton, in Holland Park. Lieutenantcolonel N. C. Rutherford, a' Territorial medical officer, has been arrested. Rutherford was charged at West London Police Court with murder, and was remanded to January 22. It is understood that accused had just arrived from the front and sought to interview deceased. The interview terminated with revolver shots/ which lasted for 10 minutes. Drs Rutherford and Seton became acquainted on active service. Both were prominent medical men, Lieutenant-colonel Rutherford being an authority on anatomy and human embryology, and lately Assistant Commissioner of Medical Services. The newspapers feature the Seton shooting sensation. It is understood that deceased was upstairs with his host and hostess, when Colonel Rutherford called and inquired from the parlourmaid if Major Seton were there. The parlourmaid showed him into the dining room, where deceased joined him. They talked together for about 10 minutes, when a revolver shot was heard. A neighbour (Miss Halse) heard four heavy thumps, and rushed into the street, where she found Sir Malcolm Seton very agitated outside his door. He said there had been an awful tragedy inside, and asked her to enter and comfort Lady Seton. But Miss Halse found the latter quite collected. Colonel ■ Rutherford made no attempt to escape. . It is reported that Sir Malcolm Seton told a friend that the affair was as much a mystery to him as to anybody. When Rutherford called Sir Malcolm suggested that he should be invited upstairs into the smoking room, but deceased said he would go down and see him. Unconcerned and not agitated, Major Seton might have been going to greet an old friend. After the shots were fired Sir Malcolm rushed downstairs, but Rutherford offered no explanation, and appeared cool and collected. He expressed his concern at the distress caused to the host and hostess.. Lieutenant-colonel Rutherford, who was arrested for the murder of Major Seton, was awarded the D.S.O. for gallantry in France. He came home on leave three weeks ago. Major Seton was big in build and of strong physique. He was a well-known game hunter, and came to England in August, 1916. He had been working as a medical officer in the Australian camps. His remains will be buried in the Australian military burial ground at Brookwood on Saturday. Major Seton was unmarried, and it is stated that he was on friendly terms with the Rutherford family. Rutherford appeared in a dazed condition at the West London Police Court. Inspector Savage stated that he visited Sir Malcolm Seton's house at half-past 12 that night and saw Major Seton's body with three bullet wounds in it. Later he saw accused at the police station. Rutherford said he would like to send a message to his wife to tell her what had happened

before she read It in the papers. H# wrote a message to her. Accused did not reply when formally charged. Inspector Savage said it was not intended at present to, put in the message which accused sent to his wife. Accused was remanded to January 22. MELBOURNE, January 17. Major Seton, prior to becoming attached to the medical section of the Common- f wealth Forces, was a prominent. Colling street doctor. By the last mail his agents advised him that his mother had died, and that he inherited her estate. Major Seton intended remaining in England, and asleep his agents to wind up his Australian affairs. He served in the South African war. • LONDON, January 15. At the inquest on the body of Major Seton, on Friday, dramatic development* are expected. Inhere is considerable speculation as to the contents of the message which Lieut.-colonel Rutherford wrote lo his wife telling her of the tragedy. Accused first wrote a draft of a letter but threw it on the floor and rewrote the letter. The police are now in possession of the draft. It is significant that Rutherford throughout the proceedings was quiet and collected,' though he momentarily broke down when, his wife's name wa» mentioned in court. His friends believe that his action was dictated by a deeo sense of chivalry. Mrs Rutherford » described as a charming woman with fair hair and blue eyes. Her youngest child is three years old. Major Seton's remains will be buried with military honours. The newspapers recall Major Seton's daring ride acros» the Strathbogey ranges, North-east Victoria, during a bush fire six or seven yean ago. Colonel Rutherford made a runaway marriage. The couple despaired of securing Mr Roberts's (bride's father) consent, eloped, and married secretly. Mr Robert! only forgave them several years later, when he provided Rutherford with a

lucrative appointment and a handsome residence at Saltaire. m. The inquest on Major Seton has been adjourned to January 24.