The tragedy in the North.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 488, 2 August 1890, Page 3

The tragedy in the North.

iHUBDER OF CONSTABLE McLEOD. Auckland, Thursday. •rning’s Herald has a full report flful tragedy at Mangawhare, the ing telegraphed by the Dargaville ent. ;iNG OF THE FATAL JOURNEY. ie steamer left Dargaville, which ban a mile above Mangawhare,’ nt on board as a passenger as the le was sounding. He carried a gun and also a revolver and sheath knife, the latter weapons being concealed. He became very noisy after the boat left, and Captain Rawson took the gun from him, thus irritating him. The steamer called at Mangawhare, when Constable and Mrs Scott embarked. A VIOLENT SCENE. The v-ssel was moving away from the Mangawhare Wharf when Constable McLeod entered the cabin. This room has two entrances. One is at the end of a passage leading past the engine-room, and it was by this dot} that Constable McLeod went* into the cabin. Immediately afterwards Mr Matthews also entered the door. He spoke to the constable, whom he had known for some time, and said, “ I suppose you are on your way down to Auckland.” “ Oh, yes,” replied Constable McLeod, sitting down on one of the settees, “we are all here.” At this moment Funcke came into the cabin by the same door at that a V which the constable had entered, Funcke was excited, and was calling out •* Give me my gun, or I*ll shoot some of you.” Besides those already mentioned, there wer4 at this time in the cabin Mr Trounaon and Mr Dargaville, jun. When Funcke came in, his hand was raised, and he was holding out what appeared to be a revolver, but apparently none of those in the room thought that the weapon, though some of them recognised it as a revolver, was loaded, or was anything more than a mere toy. Mr Matthews remarked, “ Here’s a neisy fellow. I suppose we shall have to do something with him.” He had hardly spoken these words when Constable Scott, who had heard the shouting, came into the cabin, and going np toFuncke, said, “Look here, ynu will have to make less ncise.” “Oh,” replied Funcke, “who are you? I suppose yen think you are some person in authority.” Constable Scott, at once seizing the man, pushed him out of the cabin. A scuffle ensued in the passage, and Constable McLeod coming to Scott’s assistance. Funcke was taken np on deck. Even at this time the revolver end sheath knife remained with the man. It was not known that be had the knife, whilst these who had seen the revolver never imagined that it was a dangerous weapon of the Bulldog pattern and loaded. | EJECTED FROM THE STEAMER.

When the constables gained the deck with Funcke, Captain Rawson resolved to return to Mangawhare and put the man ashore. They were only about a boat’s length from the wharf at this time. The vessel was again put alongside, and the constables and mate took Funcke, the latter offering no resistance. The gun was retained on board, and the officers having returned, the steamer again moved off. Funcke then began abusing the captain and shouting out to them to give him his gun.

THE MURDER. At this time, when the steamer was about 20 yards from the wharf, Captain Rawson was at the wheel. Constable McLeod standing by the rail, with Constable Scott near by, and Mr Matthews was on the bridge. It was then feared by some of the passengers that Funcke tn his excited condition would fall over the •nd of the wharf; but there was not the ■lightest apprehension of the fearful tragedy which was about to be enacted. A moment afterward the man. in the bright moonlight, was seen to extend his arm, and then followed the flash and the report of the revolver. It was the impression that the man was firing blank cartridge, and those on deck and on the bridge, not dreaming of any danger, stood looking towards him, instead of scattering, as they would have done had they known the real state of the case. A second shot followed. but the passengers still kept looking towards Funcke as the steamer stood out down the stream. Constable McLeod had remained all this time in his position at the rail, and was with the others steadily watching Funcke. Then came the third and fatal ■hot, which undeceived all on board. The bullet fired by Funcke struck Constable McLeod directly through the heart. The unfortunate man exclaimed, “Oh my God 1 ” and, falling on the deck, instantly expired. Immediately afterward, a fourth bullet hit the boat hoisted aft, and this was followed by a fifth shot, which pierced the timber of the ladies* cabin about three-quarters of an inch, but happily the increasing distance of the ■teamer from the wharf prevented it from penetrating further, and no one was injured. A HARROWING SCENE. Ths scene which followed when Constable McLeod fell dead was a most harrowing one. The suddenness of the tragedy completely daied and stupefied for some moments everyone who realised what had happened. The body of the constable was lifted up and carried into the cabin. His two little sons were in the cabin when the shots were fired, and when they heard the shoots, “ McLeod is shot!” they commenced to scream and sob bitterly, anxiously inquiring if their father waa killed; but in pity the truth was not told to them. Mrs McLeod, who was in the ladies’ cabin aft when her husband was shot, was informed that he had been hurt, but war not made aware of bis death, and was told that it was better that she should not see him just then. The poor woman was greatly distressed even at learning that he had been hurt, though much worse news was to follow. Mrs Scott (the wife of Constable Scott) and other ladies endeavoured to soothe and console Mrs McLeod in her distress.

BREAKING THE NEWS TO THE WIDOW. As it would have been madness to put in to Mangawhare in face of the continued indiscriminate firing of the revolver, the ■teamer returned to Dargaville. Dr Norton was aroused and went aboard, but of course could do no more than pronounce life extinct. It was now impossible to attempt further concealment of the real facta from the widow, and the sad news was broken to her as gently as possible by some of the other ladies. The horror and distress of the poor weman may easily be imagined. Her grief was so overwhelming that she could not gee the relief of tears, and simply gave vent to a succession of shrieks, heartrending to listen to. She begged to be allowed to see the body of her husband before it was taken on shore. She wuaccordingly conducted to the cabin, where another most pathetic scene took p'ace, ending in the widow stooping and kissing the face of her dead husband, who had been so suddenly taken frnm her, after which she swooned away. When the body was being removed on shore Mrs McLeod gathered her fatherless children about her, and there was another piwionate outburst of grief. STATEMENT BY THE PRISONER. At the inquest the prisoner stated—“ I paid my passage, and they took my caps from me, so I shot him, as my life depended on my caps. I know my life is forfeited. It is a pity they did not drop me, as now they will have the pleasure of hanging me, My life is of no value to anyone. I shot the man because I thought he was captain. He took my gun, and I cannot live without it. I shoot birds with it, and get my food by