THE SHOOTING AFFRAY

Southland Times, Issue 17937, 31 January 1917, Page 5

THE SHOOTING AFFRAY

DETAILS OF THE HAPPENING.

PRINCIPAL COMMITS SUICIDE,

Fuller particulars of Monday night’s shooting affray in Kelvin road are now available. It appears that Mrs Brennan, who is the wife of Alexander Brennan, a local billiard-room proprietor, met Fred R. Annison, who was an architect, about 10 p.m. They had evidently had a few words, and the woman had apparently told her companion to leave her, when he suddenly drew the revolver and fired. Then he appears to have gone off, but is stated to have told Mrs Brennan at some time during the interview that he intended to shoot her son also before he did away with himself. Mrs Brennan, whose neck had been penetrated by the bullet, walked to the house of a friend, whence the doctor and the police were communicated with. A party of policemen at once- proceededto the spot and commenced'searching for Annison. It was suspected that he might - be found at Mrs Towrison’s boardinghouse out by the Eastern Cemetery, and the police called there about one o’clock, but could get no reply, so returned to town. At daylight the search was renewed, but without result, until Detec-tive-Sergeant Cameron and Constable Pont revisited the boarding house on the East road. There it was found that Annison had arrived in a state of great excitement just before ; midnight. Tire Detective at ' once ascended the stairs and proceeded along the passage in the direction of the room occupied by the object of the search. The door of the bedroom was open, and the officer was between 12 and 15 feet from it when the sharp report of a revolver rang out. The Detective hurried in to find Annison, his boots, coat, collar, cap and tie off, and with one hand still grasping a revolver, lying on the bed quite dead. It was then exactly 6.30 a.m. The deceased had evidently been awaiting the police, as was indicated by the open door and the fact that the butt of the firearm was more hot than warm through being clasped in his hand. He had fired upwards into his mouth. The body was removed to the morgue, where it now lies.

The deceased, who was aged about 50 years and was a childless widower, was an Englishman by birth. After nrnrryipg in South Australia, he came to New Zealand about ten years ago, and set up as an architect at Gore. It was in that town that he first met Mrs Brennan. Eater, he removed to Invercargill, where he lost his wife over two years ago. Business had been very slack with him ever since the war began, and latterly his headquarters were at the Bluff, although he kept an office in Invercargill as well. It will be remembered that his premises in Neil’s buildings wore cleared out by fire some months ago. He is said to have drifted since his wife's death and was, it is stated, for the last few weeks very melancholy. He is also said to have mentioned suicide more than once.

Enquiry late last night elicited the information that Mrs Brennan was making satisfactory progress.