THE LA BARTE TRAGEDY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16307, 23 December 1920, Page 7

THE LA BARTE TRAGEDY

) THE INQUEST. LA BARTE COMMITTED FOR , TRIAL, By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright, Australian and K.Z, Cable Association. . (Received December 23, noon.) SYDNEY, December 23. In evidence at the La Baric inquest il was shown that Major La Barto had been drinking heavily. Sixteen bullet wounds were found in Ins wife's body. A police sergeant called as a witness, gnre evidence that when he spoke to La Barte over the telephone the latter said; “I mint all the police sent out. 1 want to kill them all.” La Barte was stupidly drunk. A man employed by La Barte gave evidence that alter Airs La Barte was shot he saddled a horse intending to letch the police. As ho mounted La Barte shot tho horse dead and fired several shots at him as he ran to cover. La Barte was committed for trial. (Major La Barte, who suffered from pains in his head and’was strange in his maimer since his return from tho war, shot his wiio dead at Alonsvalo, near Sydney, and also killed a. policeman. After shooting In's wife lie telephoned to the police and informed them of the tragedy. When they arrived ho opened fire on them, and an ui shots was maintained until La Bar to’s ammunition was exhausted. He is .a sou of Canon La Barte, of Melbourne, and was very popular. He won the M.(J. at the'war. His wife ■ivaa a daughter of a prominent Melbourne lawyer.)