MURDER AT MASTERTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 10328, 8 June 1895, Page 2

MURDER AT MASTERTON.

■'additional Particulars. ' !3"i;;?SATIONAL SCENE. A tragic affair occurred in Queenstreet, M;ssterton, at 20 minutes to 5 o'clock on Thursday evening, when Andrew Komerville. a labourer, shot dead Artaur Herbert, .contractor, of Herbertville. - It appears that some mouths ago Herbert had a. road formation contract from the Akito Road Board, and let a sub-contract for 40 chains to Someryjlle and two others. After wordng on the contract for some time Somorville withdrew, as he says, by consent of Herbert and his mates. Somerville says the agreement was made that when the contract was completed and payment was received from the Board he was to be paid the sum of £19. On the completion of the contract, however, Herbert declined to pay. Somerville thereupon served a notice upon the Road Board under the Contractors' and Workmen's Lien Act to retain the money pending proceedings. In tho Xagistrate's Conrt at Masterton on Thursday a case was heard in which Somervillo claimed £19 from Herbert and the Road Board. The defence was raised that tho case had not beun brought within the time specified by the Act. Eventually, the case was adjourned for a fortnight, it being arranged that proceedings should be dropped against the Board, and continued against Herbert. x • SOMERVILLE BUYS A REVOLVER. Shortly after tho adjournment of the case Somerville went to the shop of Mr A.' Bradford, gunsmith, and bought a sixchambered revolver, stating that be was going to Coolgardie, and asked if the gunsmith thought the revolver would be auf- 1 fieient defence on the'goldfiolds. At the request of Somerville, the revolver was loaded in six chambers. MEETING HIS VICTIM. .. At twenty minuteß to fiv&, Horbert was standing Avith Mr A. McHutchon, clerk of tho Akitio Road' Board* beside tke Club Hotel, when Somerville came up and stood, in front of them }j\th both hands in hi 3 trousers pockets." After a short pause, he •siid' :— - ' 't ,* ' J > , y <;1 ; Well, Herbert, will you' Kara a,iirink? '■'I Herbert replied; Y«s, I.dbji'triuncl. - , ; . ,'Bo"merville then/remarked, You should n»t go against me 1 Jo, I novjer went againut, you, said Herbert, ;r Objj^yes, you did } 'retorted'jSomervillsV Rut -didn't I York for you like s man ? f " ~"Yeg,~wa3 theTeply - but didn J fc-I treat, you li o a gentleman ? why didn't pay nje my 'money 1 ? asked Bomemlle. .JElerbort.paused, and then saidj. Because there was no money on the job. •- c"' - - THE fIHOOTIXQ. - , „: '.-. *" Thereupon, Somerville drewa revolver -from his pocket, and^said "Tfike-.that!" "flring.two shots in succession into Herber's breast. Herbert then ran into the middle of the street, "shrieking awfully. lEomervllle walked after him, and when he waa in ths middle of the street -fired athird shot with a similar repark as, before. Herbert began to reel, staggered to the side of tho road and fell in the gutter, where he died without uttering another word.

THE ARREST.-

, . Constables Collertop.and Nestor were standing within five chains of the scene of the tragedy, and when tho saw what had happened rah to the spot. Constable Nestor seized Somerville from behind and throw him down, whilst Collerton wrested the weapon from his hand. Three of tbe chambers were found still loaded. Somerville offered no resistance, but after remarking about working fotHerbert for two yeara without money and asking, Is he dead? said,' l'll go with you. Ho was then taken to tho police cells. The ; body of poor Herbert, after being was conveyed to the Morgue.

Herbert was known as a quiet, inoffensive man. He was about 50 years of age, and was a contractor at Herbertville, where ho leaves a large family.

THE PKISOXER,

Somerville is a man of about 40 years of age. He had been working for Herbert at Herbortville, and afterwards in the Akitio district. He is about six feet in height, of stout build and of steady habits. For somo months he has been surfaceman to the Akitio Road Board, and has been regarded as a very industrious workman, though possessed of a somewhat baaty temper. An iuqueat on the remains of the murdered man Herbert was opened at Masterton on Friday afternoon. Andrew John Somervilte, the perpetrator of the crime, was charged at the Masterton Court on Friday with wilful murder. The prisoner walked with a firm step into tho Court, and, beyond casting his eyes piercingly into the assembled crowd, seemed to take no interest in tho proceedings. Mr Pownall appeared on behalf of prisoner. A .verdict of wilful murder was returned against Andrew Somerville.

Somerville coatinues calm and unmoved. Herbert's remains -will be taken to Horbertville, Hawko's Bay, where he has a wife and seven children.