The Sydney Shooting Affair.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6897, 18 June 1892, Page 4

The Sydney Shooting Affair.

A sensational incident occurred on the 4th instant in a train between Redfern and Eveleigh stations. It appears that Mr Thomas Walker, M.L. A. for Northumberland, and a friend, Mr Newstead, were travelling to Rockdale by a Hurstville train, which left; Redfern shortly after 2 o'clock. In the same carriage was the Rev. David Laseron, incumbent of St. George's Church (Church of England), Glenmore road, Paddington. A few minutes after the train left the station, a loud report was heard in the carriage. At the same instant Mr Laseron started forward and uttered a cry, " Oh, I have been shot in the back " It was then seen that Mr Walker was holding a revolver in his hand, and smoke was issuing out of the muzzle of the weapon. The train reached Eveleigh station soon afterwards, and Mr Read called for assistance. Porter Laing entered the car and assisted in securing the revolver from Mr Walker. Mr Walker was greatly excited by drink, and when the porter was putting him out of the train lie struggled most violently. Tho police arrested him, and at the police station he was charged with having been drunk and disorderly at Eveleigh railway station while open to the public, and with having inflicted grievous bodily harm upon David * Laseron. In the lockup Mr Walker continued his violent manner, but later on he sobered down. On the charge sheet he gave his age as 34 years ; occupation, journalist ; and residence, Railway street, Rockdale. The revolver was a small "British bulldog" of six chambers, five of which were loaded. On examination it was found that the bullet before striking Mr Laseron had passed through the back of the seat. This would not cause much resistance to the bullet, as the seat ia merely of leather covering with a thin layer of horsehair. The bullet, after passing through the back of the seat, passed through Mr Loßeron's clothes and entered the body beneath the shoulder-blade, and took a downward course into the muscles of the back, where it remained. The wound is not considered dangerous, but there is always the possibility of blood poisoning setting in. Next morning Mr Walker was very weak from the effects of his intoxication on Saturday, and Dr. Gwynne-Hughes had to revive him with medicine. Mr Walker stated that he remembered nothing of the occurrence, and he appeared distressed at what he had done. The Rev. David Laseron did not know Mr Walker, nor had he ever, to his recollection, seen him before. He is thus at a loss to account for the affair. Thomas Walker was returned to the Legislative Assembly as the senior member for Northumberland at the last general elections. He assisted Joseph Symes in the atheistic lectures which were delivered last year in Sydney, and he has been prominently identified in atheistical movements in the city.