THE BALFOUR TRAGEDY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7398, 29 July 1895, Page 3

THE BALFOUR TRAGEDY.

The report in the Southern Standard contains fuller particulars of this aflltir. Middlemisa and Stewart were sent to execute a distress warrant on Keown, and arrived at his place at three o'clock on Saturday morning. It was pitch dark, but Keown was roused up, and came out with a gun. He fired, it is thought, over the heads of Mididlenriss and Stewart, who turned and rode to Riversdale. Middlemiss came by train to Gore, and laid an information (afterwards withdrawn) against Keown for firing with intent to wound. Middlemiss went back to Riversdalo by. the two o'clock train, met Stewart there, and they proceeded together a second time to Keown's. They reached there about twenty minutes to five in the ; afternoon. Keown agaiu came out with a gun, and said ; " If I cannot shoot both of you I will shoot one." Stewart replied : *' Oh, Jack, you won't do that !" and with that Keown fired. Stewart was on horseback. " Oh, Lord !" he exclaimed, and placing his hand to his ear he fell to the ground. Middlemiss then turned and galloped, towards Riversdale. Someone called upon him to stop and help to pick Stewart up, bub Middlemiss did not stop till he reached Riversdale. Stewart received the contents of the gun on the left side of his face. His jaw was broken, and bis left ear and eye were very severely injured. It is believed that the gun contained pellets or shot. Stewart fell in the mud of the road, and, it is thought, remained there for some time, and was then dragged on to the grass or tussock, and subsequently to an open shed or lean-to. Shortly before six Sergeant Fleming, of Gore, received a telephone message from Middlemiss stating that Stewart had been shot by Keown. The sergeant and Constable Fergusson. at once ! armed themselves, drove to Riveradale, changed hoises there, and proceeded to Keown's. Middlemiss was at Riversdale, and the police asked him to go on with them and. point out where Stewart was lying. £his, however, Middlemiss refused to do, saying he ihad been up all night. The police reached Keown'a about 1.30 o'clock on Sunday morning, and were joined by Constables Herlihy (Waikaia) and M'Kenzie {Lumsden). Stewart was found lying on some straw and bags in the lean-to, bleeding freely. The night was bitterly cold. Inside Reown's house was a party sitting round a fire. Stewart was removed to a bedroom by che police, and Constable M'Kenzie arrested Keown. The latter went quietly with the . police, who took him to Lumsden. Sergeant Fleming found the gun broken at the small part of the butt, and the guard of the gun was found a little distance off, covered with blood, where Stewart was supposed to have fallen. A son of Stewart's left Gore with a friend on Saturday night, and arrived at Keown's about 9 a.m. on Sunday. They found Stewart lying on a bed with his back againab the wall, and his feeb hanging over the side of the bed. Only Keown's people werepresent from 9 a.m. till about 2 p.m., when the police (who, it appears, had gone to Balfour with Keown) arrived and brought Dr Bauchop, of Lumsden with them. After a consultation, it was decided to take Stewart on to Riversdale, and as they were proceediiig to place him on an express Dr. Donaldson ani^d, from Gore, and returned to Riversdale. An examination of the wounds was made, and it was seen that they were extremely- dangerous. The wounded man complained of great pains about the right side and one of his legs. These injuries could not possibly have been inflicted by the discharge of the gun, because Keown was at Stewart's left side. The gun used was a double-barrelled one, and one barrel was discharged on the Saturday morning, the other when Stewart was shot. It is thought that Keown must have been seven or eight yards' off when he fired, and was standing about a chain from the house. Stewart has a family of four daughters and thiee sons, all grown up excejpt two boys, fifteen and thirteen years of age respectively. Keown also has a large family, including one daughter. The unfortunate affair arose out of a case recently bried ab Gore, when Messrs Reid and Gray obtained judgment against Keown for repairs of an engine. Middlemiss and Stewart were sent out to seize Keown'a horses by default, and hence the trouble. It is said that Keown felt very sore over the affair, and delayed paying the amount, though he was in a position to do so, and that his quick temper got the better of him when the bailiffs were- sent out. "The judgment was satisfied on Monday^afternoon.. We understand that Stewart was shot; at about 4.40 p m. on Saturday, and remained wheie he fell until 11.30 p.m. in the frost and cold. Keown then retired to bed. Two men working on the farm, who were afraid | to touch the wounded man, whilst Keown was about, then took him to a shed and made him as comfortable as they could. The police arrived about 2 a.m. on Sunday, and, after arresting Keown, had Stewart removed to Keown's own bed. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. The Mataura Ensign states that when John Keown was arrested he said, c< I shot the -r— right enough, but I must have been mad -when I did it. I expect I'll get my ; neck stretched for this." After Stewart fell Keown is reported to have savagely beaten him with the gun, and afterwards went towards his house. J ust before entering the house, however, he noticed Stewart kicking, and said, " The — - isn't dead yet ; I'll get a pick and finish him." This he did nob do, but went inside to bed. Stewart was gradually sinking all day on Monday, and died peacefully about 8.30 "in the evening. It is extremely improbable that he made any dying depositions, as throughout he showed a desire to shield Keown. Both were Orangemen. Stewart sturdily insisted that he> had' not been shot ab all, but that the affair was all an accident, and occurred through his (Stewart's) falling from his horse. The only indication he gave of Keown'a guilt was when, on being conveyed to Riversdale, he pressed his bands to his right aide and said, " Oh, how he kicked me." THE INQUEST. The inquest was opened at Riversdale before Mr R. S, Hawkins, coroner, at noon to-day. Mr Hannan, instructed, by. Mr A. C. Hanlon, appeared to watch the proceedings on 'behalf of the prisoner.

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