A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10529, 17 December 1912, Page 4

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

AT THE MARTON JUNCTION. MAN AND WOMAN SHOT. Quite a sensation was created in Marton and the Junctou when it became known that a tragedy had been enacted on Wing’sjyLiue, near the Marton Junction Station, and close to the Marton Racecourse. The victims were W. Hugh Urquhart, aged about 30, and Lorua Gordon, aged 21, death being caused by bullet wounds. When discovered on the side of the road by Mr Fowler, a farmer of Porewa, the couple were lying close together, the man still holding the revolver in his right hand. From appearances it seems that the girl was shot first under the left breast, and then Urquhart shot himself through the heart. There was also a bullet wound in the girl’s left arm above the elbow. A few minutes prior to the tragedy, Mr J. Gouder and Mr C. Garside were in a care conveying a tank to the racecourse, and passed the couple walking on the road a few yards from where the tragedy occurred. Urquhart spoke to Mr Garside, and he was evidently the last person who spoke to him. After delivering the tank they drove back to town, and discovered the bodies on the side of the road in the position indicated, Mr Fowler in the meantime having driven to the Station to communicate with the police and doctor. When seen walking along Wing’s Lane towards the Station Urquhart was carrying a leather handbag in his left hand, Miss Gordon walking alongside of him on the left side. They were met just behind the grandstand, and evidently only walked about three chains before committing the deed, or as soon as the trap had disappeared over the incline. The girl was evidently shot whilst her attention £was attracted tor a moment, and then laid down on the side of the road on the grass vvith her face upwards, and there were no signs of any struggle. Urquhart was found with his head lying in the gorse face downwards, with an arm thrown over the girl’s body still holding the revolver. The girl was still breathing when found, but the man was dead and on Dr. Scott and Constable Fitzpatrick appearing on the scene at 5.80 life was pronounced extinct. A handbag in which the revolver was carried was found alongside the bodies, and contained a number of letters.

In a conversation with the. deceased lady’s brother, Mr Richard Gordon, it appears that Urquhart, who is a carpenter, had been paying attention to his sister for a number of months, hut on the family learning that Urquhart was a married man they forbade any further intimacy. Urquhart wrote from Wellington to say that he would send her letters hack by a friend, who was due in Marton by the mail train yesterday. With the object of meeting the person who was to deliver the letters. Miss Larua Gordon visited _ the station, but instead of the friend appearing Urquhart came in person. The bodies were couve3 7 ed to the Railway Hotel, where an inquest will be held this afternoon at 2.30 o’clock. The revolver used was a Browning automatic, three of the seven shots in the magazine having been fired. The last shot was evidently fired in the dying convulsion of the man. Miss Gordon was a daughter of Mr J. Gordon, of Makirikiri, a wellknown and highly respected family of long stanidng in the Raugitikei district. She was a bright young lady and a favourite with all who knew her. Urquhart was a carpenter by trade, and a resident Wellington. He was employed for a time on Dr. Brown’s residence at Upper Tutaenui, where he made the acquaintance of Miss Gordon. Deep sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents and family in this awful calamity, which came with a shock that was startling in its suddenness.