SHOT IN SLEEP

Southland Times, Issue 18968, 15 June 1923, Page 5

SHOT IN SLEEP

THE COLDSTREAM MURDER. OLD MAN’S TRAGIC FATE ‘ AN EXTRAORDINARY CRIME (Per United Press Association.) ASHBURTON, June 14. “Am I mad? Am I mad? I shot McKenzie. I told him not to be silly. I banged my head and I had a terrible night.” This is the dramatic statement attributed to Albert Fredrick Maxwell Kissel, a sturdy youth of 18 years, who was arrested by the Ashburton police yesterday on a charge of murdering one of his best friends, James Henry Suring McKenzie, an elderly man of 65. The affair occurred at the well-known Coldstream estate, where the victim was employed as caretaker of the homestead of Mr John Studholme, during the latter’s absence on a visit to England. McKenzie appears to have been shot as he lay asleep in the homestead. It is said the alleged murderer, Kissel, suffered from delusions. The arrested man’s remarks as quoted above, and subsequent statements alleged to have been made by him, would lead to the belief that he was in a most pitiable state of mind all yesterday, and that he was striving in his disturbed mentality to recall the events that might have occurred during the sad mental lapse. The circumstances surrounding the case are peculiarly distressing. Although the accused man says he shot McKenzie he could not by any effort yesterday account for his action. He does not even know how he did it or when the affair took place. Strange as they may seem such as are the extraordinary features. The principals in the drama are known to have been on most intimate terms. Kissel was in the habit of spending a great many evenings at the homestead where McKenzie lived. The friendship was by no means recently acquired, for in October, 1920, McKenzie was caretaker in charge of Quail Island in Lyttelton harbour, and the two met and worked together there for some time. In the same year McKenzie retired from the Island and came to Coldstream, where they were fated to meet again, for Kissel came to Coldstream also. Kissel arrived in February last. Papers in the possession of the police show that the two men were on very intimate terms.

Kissel was brought before the Court this morning and charged with murder. Accused did not appear agitated, but his face flushed several times and he passed his fingers through his curly hair frequently. Despite his rough garb and heavy boots, he presented the appearance of a very intelligent youth. Sergeant Brien asked for a remand till Thursday morning, saying accused would be taken to Paparua prison, where his actions would be observed. The remand was granted. News of the bare fact that a man had been found shot at Coldstream v. as received by telephone about 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Constables White and Southworth were despatched to the scene. Entering the room in the homestead, a sad and gruesome sight met their eyes. The body of the deceased w T as found lying huddled on the floor in a pool of blood. Deceased was clad in pyjamas. There did not appear as if there had been a struggle. No weapons were found anywhere about and it seemed as though deceased had been done to death by an assailant who fired one shot at the man as he awakened, and that, in the agony of his death struggle, deceased had writhed over and dropped to the floor. Examination revealed the fact that the shot entered the body from the side and travelled in a slanting direction toward the front, passing right through the trunk.

In the course of inquiries, the police were informed that a young man named Kissel, who was employed by David Little as ploughman, had confessed the crime The police were quickly in touch with Kissel. The story of his movements, behaviour and peculiar statements, is told by his employer. According to Little, Kissel took a team of horses to the paddocks yesterday morning as usual, and worked in a normal manner. During the morning there appeared to be nothing extraordinary about his behaviour, but about mid-day le went up to his employer and said: “I can see McKenzie all the morning.” Naturally such a strange remark aroused the curiosity of the listener, who questioned him further. Kissel went on dramatically:

“Am I mad? Am I mad? I shot McKenzie. I told him not to be silly. I banged my head and I had a terrible nightmare.” Later on he said’: “There were three cartridges in my box last night, and now there are only two.” Little sent Kissel over to the homestead and followed later. At. the homestead he found what he feared awaited him, McKenzie had been killed. The young man made no attempt to escape. He was placed under arrest and brought to the Ashburton lock-up. An investigation was made of Kissel’s quarters by the police. They found a murderous looking sporting gun of 44 bore. In the breech was an empty shell. A further search revealed a box that had contained Winchester bullets of 44 bore, and in it were two live cartridges. Kissel’s movements on Tuesday night are accounted for for some hours. That night, or at any rate in the evening, he did not go to McKenzie’s house, which is about a quarter of an hour’s walk from Little’s place, as he was accustomed. He stayed home, where he played cards with other men for a considerable time. At what hour he actually went to McKenzie’s house is not known as yet, but Kissel declares that be shot deceased, though under what circumstances he cannot recollect. Further evidence of the unfortunate Kissel’s troubled state of mind is gathered from the fact that when asked by the police to piece his narrative together, he could not do so, but often wandered on to something not connected with the tragedy on matters that had no bearing on the case. He conversed quite rationally. It was evident, however, that he had sensed the enormity of the crime. Last night at the police station he asked that a pencil and paper be given him that he might put the story together as it came to him.

Accused is a well-built youth, fully sft lOin. in height and heavily made in proportion. He is said to have resided in Lyttelton at one time. INQUEST OPENS. ACCUSED’S SENSATIONAL STATEMENT AVERS THAT HE SHOT A GIRL. ASHBURTON, June 14. At the inquest on McKenzie this afternoon, the manager of the Studholme estate, Martin, said that when Kissel arrived at the homestead after the tragedy, witness grabbed him by the arm, saying: “We want you!” Kissel asked, “How is he?” Martin said: “You killed him.” Kissel gave way to grief and collapsed to the ground. Witness said: “Be a man,” and shook Kissel, who raved, shrieked and called out loudly. Witness said: “If you are afraid of being hung, you need not be, for you are mad.” Kissel said: “What does mad mean. Is it being out of your head ” Witness said, “Yes.” Kissel then quietened down. He admitted entering the homestead from the side door. He also said he shot a girl that night whom he had gone to school with. Her name was Elsie Prestige. Kissel could not remember the place where he killed her. The inquest was adjourned sine die. SCENE OF TRAGEDY. SOME EXTRAORDINARY FEATURES ASHBURTON, June 14. Nestling among the heavy belts of picturesque trees, the typically old English homestead containing about twenty-five rooms would appear cut off from the outside world but for four or five friendly little cottages dotted about in close proximity. These lend the appearance of a tiny settlement. The scene which struck die reporter most forcibly waa that which

stretched itself beneath of window of the death room. The house stands on a terrace, which slopes down to the level of the green sward, bordered by neat pathways and having handy artificial ponds which enhance the beauty. All this could be seen from McKenzie's room, which was situated in the servants’ wing through long, echoing, dark corridors, from which the carpets had been removed. The reporter made his way past the beautiful tapestries hanging from the walls of the corridors to the death room, the scene of the grim tragedy which the silent walls had sheltered. It was a simply furnished room. On the centre of the floor was a blood-stained carpet rolled up to contain the bedding. There were two stretchers and over McKenzie’s, the wallpaper was splashed with the dead man’s blood. This was the most telling feature of a foul deed. Apart from the stretchers, the furniture comprised a small chest of drawers, washstand and chair. One room in the homestead is the chapel, in which the folk of the district meet regularly. McKenzie, the dead man, was the chapel organist. His room was within a dozen paces of the chapel. Kissel’s father is dead, but he has a stepfather, a married sister, and a brother aged 12 years. McKenzie obtained permission for Kissel to come to the estate for his holiday, which was during the harvest time. He later worked for other settlers. The residents state he was not in the habit of drinking, and generally his demeanour was quite normal. There were times, however, when he became hysterical, but this emotion was created by laughter. The crime was discovered by the manager of the Coldstream estate, Martin, a few minutes after noon. According to the story of those present at the time, Kissel came to the manager and declared he committed the deed. The manager states that Kissel was in a painfully agitated state of mind. It was distressing to see him drying. He was so distressed that he did not know his own name. He said he was Max, and asked someone nearby what other name was there. There are eleven houses within a mile of the scene. The manager of the station Says the old man had no friends and made a will leaving everything to Kissel, whom he liked. The will was unsigned. He had saved between £2OO and £3OO.

A most extraordinary feature of the case is that Kissel, according to his own statement to various people, was undressed when he went to bed, yet, when he woke in the morning he found himself fully dressed with a gun alongside him. The first thing he did was to clean the gun. One of the Coldstream estate employees told a reporter that he asked Kissel why he was crying and raving. Kissel, who asked him what his name was, said he was once thrown from a horse.

■Mr A. Gourley, an Ashburton young man, who is a teacher in the school at Coldstream, stays at Little’s house, and is therefore well acquainted with the suspected man. He stated that Kissel came out of the whare about mid-day and called him. He was crying bitterly. He asked: “Am I mad?” Gourley tried to cheer him up and asked what was troubling him. Kissel replied: “I shot McKenzie last night. I had a terrible nightmare.” He then walked limply to the shed and leaned wearily against the wall, thoroughly distraught. He also said he had only two bullets in the box now. whereas there were three the night before. The discovery of the crime by Mr Martin was followed within a few minutes by the appearance of Kissel in a greatly distressed state. It was stated that Kissel had given his employer a week’s notice on the evening of the tragedy. Kissel’s whare is a chain or more from the homestead. He entertained a couple of friends the previous evening, playing cards till 9.30 o’clock.