Shooting Tragedy at South Grafton.
Husband and Wife killed by a stray bullet fired 1200 yards away.
Steamer’s Captain Arrested.
Courtesy of Trove Daily Examiner 15 October 1919
A shocking tragedy for which, perhaps, it would be hard to find a parallel in the long list of shooting fatalities in the State, occurred in Ryan street, South Grafton, yesterday afternoon, when, as the result of a single rifle shot, supposed to have been fired at a distance of about 1200 yards, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Long, of Seelands, were killed, practically instantaneously.
According to information supplied by the police and that gathered by our representative, who was on the scene of the tragedy soon after it occurred, it appears that the unfortunate couple left South Grafton about 1.30 for their home at Seelands, driving a horse and sulky. When abreast of Mr. J. Murphy’s residence, in Ryan Street, the horse wheeled round and almost immediately the lady occupant toppled from the vehicle on to the side of the road, and the husband followed a second later. Their horse, without any restraining hand, was quickly in a full gallop and its mad career down the road attracted the attention of a number of people to the fact that something unusual had occurred. The only witness to the episode up to that stage is said to have been a small boy.
Upon being picked up, Mrs. Long was dead, while the male deceased lived for about ten minutes, though during that time he was in a moribund condition that did not allow of him saying anything. Medical attendance was summoned, and Dr. Will Page was soon on the scene, but, he only arrived as the husband expired. The presence of punctures in both of the deceased, and the fact that several reports of a firearm were heard about that time, made it obvious that, both had been shot.
The police were summoned, and Constable Warburton, who was in charge at South Grafton in the temporary absence of Sergeant Calman, took charge pending the arrival of Sergeant Swan and Constable Dent from Grafton. After the bodies had been formally inspected by Dr. Henry, Government Medical Officer, they were removed to the morgue at Grafton, where the doctor conducted a post-mortem examination. He found on the male, a wound in the neck about two inches below the ear on the right side and a corresponding wound an inch lower on the other side, both of which were apparently caused by the passage of a bullet. Death was caused by the severance of the spinal cord. In the woman’s case, a similar wound was found on the right breast. The course of the bullet had taken it right through her heart and, having spent itself, lodged in her back just beneath the skin, where it was easily located and extracted in the presence of the police.
It would appear that when the bullet struck the male deceased, he dragged on the reins prior to dropping out, thus causing the horse to turn round. Though the wife was considerably taller than her husband, Dr. Henry states that when sitting, there would be little difference in height and his solution of the problem in relation to the decrease in the elevation of the bullet between its leaving the man and entering the woman is that at the time of the shot being fired the sulky was being driven on the uneven ground at the side of the road and was considerably canted.
The bullet extracted from Mrs. Long corresponded with those taken from some .303 service cartridges, which, together with a rifle, were taken from the s.s. Tintenbar, at that time lying at the North Coast Co’s coal wharf at Grafton. The rifle is a .303 Lee-Enfield of the service pattern supplied by the Naval Department to steamers to be used in destroying any mines that might be encountered at sea. Sergeant Swan was soon following up a clue that led to a satisfactory solution of the problem, to his mind, and, according to the police, the tragedy was a sequel to some shooting that had been indulged in from the deck of the Tintenbar during the lunch hour. It is alleged that some half a dozen shots were fired at some wild fowl on the point of Susan Island, a distance of about 330 yards. Considering that the trajectory of a bullet resultant on a ricochet, would be interfered with by the high bank on the south side of the river, the police incline to the view that the unlucky shot was fired at a flying bird.
About 6 p.m. the police arrested Sidney Hampford Drew, master of the Tintenbar, who is alleged to have fired at least two of the shots, and subsequently in the Police Court, before Mr. E.A. May, J.P., he was charged with manslaughter, and was remanded till to-day. Bail, which was fixed at self in £50, and a surety of a like amount, was forthcoming. The coronial inquiry will be opened to-day.
The male deceased, who was a share-farmer on a property of Mr. Ford, at Seelands, came to town about 10 a.m. yesterday with his wife, in accordance with his weekly routine, and after transacting business at Grafton, caught the 1 o’clock punt to South Grafton. It was customary for the couple, when coming to town, to drive down the south bank and return by the north bank, via the Whiteman punt, but on this occasion, unfortunately, they started the round trip in the opposite direction. The husband, who was 35 years of age, was a member of one of Grafton’s oldest families being the ninth son of the late Josiah and Mrs. Long, Mary Street. Mrs. Long was 37 years of age, and, prior to marriage, was Miss Agnes Heldt, of the well-known Braunstone family of that name. The sad tragedy leaves two orphans, a boy and a girl, aged 10 and 12 years respectively.
Grafton Tragedy
Courtesy of Trove Northern Champion 26 November 1919
Sidney Hannaford Drew, captain of the steamer Tintenbar, was charged at the Darlinghurst Sessions on Friday last with having, on October 15, at South Grafton, feloniously slain Henry Long, and his wife, Agnes Long.
Mr. Ralston was Crown Prosecutor, and Dr. Brissenden appeared for the defence. Mr. Ralston, in stating the case to the jury, said accused was firing at some shags in the Clarence River from the deck of the steamer Tintenbar, and it was alleged that one of the bullets killed Mr and Mrs Long, who were driving along the Glen Innes road in a sulky. The case for the Crown was that it was reckless to use a rifle in such a locality. Sergeant F.A. Swan, of Grafton, said that about 2 p.m. on October 15 he saw the two bodies on the Glen Innes road. He then went to the North Coast Company’s wharf, where the Tintenbar was lying, and saw accused, who in answer to questions said he fired a couple of shots from a rifle. The rifle had been supplied to him by the naval authorities for the purpose of sinking any floating mines that he might come, across. He pointed out the direction in which he fired, and said two others had also used the rifle that, morning. They also pointed out the direction in which they had fired.
Mr. Ralston: Were any of the directions indicated in the direction of where the bodies were found?—
The only one was the second shot fired by Captain Drew.
From the bridge what could you see?—
It was in a direct line with the place where I found the bodies.
Witness said he subsequently arrested Drew, who, when charged said: “Good God, sergeant that’s an awful charge. I can only say how very sorry I am it occurred.”
Mr. Ralston: How far was it from the bridge of the Tintenbar to the place where the bodies were found? —
About 1100 yards. [1km!]
Dr. Henry, Government Medical Officer at Grafton, whose evidence was read, said it was quite possible for both of the deceased to have been killed by the same bullet as they were sitting in a sulky. He extract-ed a bullet from the female deceased. Drew, who went into the witness box said he fired half a dozen shots at shags. He saw the bullets strike the water and did not think there was any danger.
At the close of the evidence Dr. Brissenden asked that the accused be dealt with under section 24 of the Crimes Act. He pointed out that Drew had already been punished by having to face the charge.
His Honor withdrew the case from the jury and discharged Drew.