STARTLING TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1930, Page 4

STARTLING TRAGEDY

FATAL SHOT IN WINE SHOP. Sydney, Sejdember 18. There rvere some remarkable features associated with the fatal shooting in a wine saloon in Sydney last Saturday of Lancelot McGregor Saidler. Saidler was discovered dead by detectives, who were searching for him in order to question him regarding a recent “hold-up” in the city. The arrival of the police at the scene of the tragedy almost immediately after the shots had been fired added to the dramatic nature of the occurrence.

The victim was a well-known member of the underworld, daring and reckless, and always in trriuble, He had been convicted 12 times during the last five years. His criminal career began with riotous behaviour. This was followed by a conviction for having occasioned bodily harm. Next, he was sentenced at Brisbane for stealing, and an assault at Sydney brought him another 18 months in gaol. Various other sentences followed, and at the time he was shot he was on remand on a consorting charge. The shooting took place with startling suddenness. First, there was a minor dispute of some sort —it is said that it had regard to money. Saidler did not get what he wanted, and leaping over the counter at the saloon he called out, “I’ll carve you up. I’ll lop off your head.” He .reeled back, with a revolver shot through' the lung. Coughing and clutching at his breast, he fell to the floor, dead. A white handle razor wrapped in brown paper - was half withdrawn from his hip pocket.

Before, the shooting boisterous laughs filled the saloon. A mist of smoke hung over the tables. There were men at each- of the tables, and a solitary girl powdered her nose at another table. Into this picture of care-free conviviality swooped tragedy. Saidler, known to his companions as “Sailor McGregor,” entered with four of his companions. Saidler had forceful ways, and the brother, of the saloon-keeper said he was always afraid of “a dust-up” as soon as he entered. His tempbr was-like tinder, and his language. was pungent. When he wanted a. thing he usually got it, even if he had to take it. On Saturday he wanted money,. as he was half drunk he was not in tlie best of humour when he was refused.

“Give us a shilling,” was the demand Saidler shot at the man who was behind .the cash register. To save trouble the shilling was forthcoming, but not so the five shillings that was demanded later. Times were too hard for that, it was said. So a string of epithets filled the saloon, which was quickly thrown into a hubbub. Saidler snapped a glass of port from one of the tables and he splashed it in the face of the man who had refused him the five shillings. The ..glass was thrown back and shivered against, a shelf of bottles. ‘Til chop your head pff with this,” Saidler is alleged to have said, and the saloon-keeper, Eonest Good, now charged with manslaughter, and his brother, declare that he produced a razor.

Customers left their drinks. Chairs were overturned. There was a rush toward' Saidler,'. He vaulted the counter. Just as his boots touched the liuoleurnicovered board a shot rang out. Saidler crashed back amid the jostling mgn. Writhing, with his hands on. his chest, he lurched toward the door. A wooden screen, blocked him. He fell flat on his back.at the foot of the screen. He did not utter a word.

On the following day a ,girl carved on the door of the saloon the following ..words;: —“I am going to get you. I kill.” Below the lettering there was a representation of, a half-opened razor. This was apparently a, threat to Ernest Good, who' was threatened with a razor by Saidler ten seconds before Saidler dropped to the floor, shot through the lung. . Several people saw. the girl carve the WO.vds on the saloon door. They say that it took her half an hour, and that .she was heedless of the passers-by who stopped to see what sh® was doing. When she had finished the job she casually walked away. Good does not take the threat seriously. He says lie believes that an associate of Saidler was reesponsible for it, however, and he will be' on the look-out in ease any thing should occur?