Alma Margaret Rayner

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Monday 8 July 1912

FOUND SHOT.

GIRL DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED

JOCKEY SHOOTS HIMSELF.

MUDGEE, Sunday.

At about half-past 3 this afternoon two young men-William Crawford and Dan Teong -were driving on the Munnah-road, about four miles from Mudgee. On the way out they passed Claude Phillips, a well-known jockey of the town, who was riding back to Mudgee on a bicycle.

Shortly after passing him they noticed in a paddock belonging to Mr. M. R. Lowe, a few yards off the road, a girl got on to her feet and fell back again. Crawford got out of the sulky to see what was wrong, and noticed that she was covered with blood about the head.

The young man lifted the girl into the sulky, and drove her to Mr. Lindsay Lowe's residence close by. There they procured a rug, and, wrapping it round her, brought her to Dr. Lester in Mudgee.

It was suggested that the girl be taken to the hospital in the doctor's car, but the doctor replied that he could not do so, as he had just received word to hasten off and attend a young man named Phillips, who had shot himself. The girl, on the doctor's advice, was driven by the young men to the hospital, and about a quarter of an hour after her arrival there Dr. Lester arrived with Phillips in his car. The girl was attended to by Dr. Challands.

It appears that Phillips rode straight, home from Wilbertree to Mr. J. Wheeler's residence, Perry-street, Mudgee, where he had been boarding with his mother. He got off the bicycle, walked into the gateway, put a revolver to his head, and shot himself within sight of his mother, who was standing only a few yards away. He held a mirror in front of him as he pulled the trigger.

The girl's name is Alma Rayner. She is about 18 years of age, and is a daughter of Mr. Wm. Rayner, farmer, of Wilbertree. The girl had three shot wounds in the forehead, and in Phillip's case the bullet went through the front of the forehead. Both are in a critical condition to-night, and neither is expected to recover.

Another young man was believed to have had an appointment with the girl that afternoon, and went out to Wilbertree, after the happening. Phillips belongs to a family who are connected with horse-racing, and he had ridden a number of prominent winners at local races.

Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954 Monday 8 July 1912

UNREQUITED LOVE.

YOUNG MAN SHOOTS GIRL.

THEN SHOOTS HIMSELF.

GIRL LIKELY TO RECOVER.

Sydney, Monday.

At about 3 o'clock on Sunday after- noon, at Menah road, about four miles from Mudgee, Claude Phillips, aged about 21, son of Mrs. J. Phillips, of Perry street Mudgee, is alleged to have shot Alma Rayner, aged 19, daughter of William Rayner, of Menah, three times in the head with a revolver. He then rode to his mother's residence, and taking a looking glass shot himself in the centre of the forehead. The girl may recover, but the doctors hold out no hope for the man.

Phillips was quite an unassuming, young fellow, and used to train the racehorse Charbrook, prior to the death of the horse two months ago. Unrequited love is thought to be the reason of the desperate deed. Phillips was keeping company with the girl some months ago, but the attachment was broken off.

Phillip's borrowed a revolver from Clyde Wheeler, a neighbor.

The girl was found unconscious by some men who were out driving, and they brought her into Mudgee. There were signs of a struggle, the girl's clothing being torn. Wheeler was to meet the girl at Menah, and Phillips, knowing this, borrowed a bicycle and got there before Wheeler.

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Tuesday 9 July 1912

The young woman Alma Rayner, the victim of the Mudgee tragedy, died in the local hospital as the result of her Injuries. The man Phillips, who shot himself in the head with a revolver, is in a critical state.

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Wednesday 10 July 1912

MUDGEE TRAGEDY.

MURDER AND SUICIDE.

MUDGEE, Tuesday.

Claude Phillips, who shot Alma Rayner at Wilbetree on Sunday, and afterwards shot himself at his own home, died last evening at Mudgee Hospital. Phillip's, age was 22.

The police magistrate will view the body this morning, and order the burial. An inquest on the tragedy will be opened at the Mudgee Court-house on Friday afternoon.

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 13 July 1912

THE MUDGEE TRAGEDY.

MURDER AND SUICIDE.

DISPUTE ABOUT JEWELLERY.

MUDGEE, Friday.

An inquest was held this afternoon by the district Coroner, Mr. Fincham, into the circumstances surrounding the death of Alma Margaret Rayner and Claude Gilroy Phillips, who died last Sunday at Wilbetree and Mudgee.

Senior-constable Guest said that on Sunday afternoon last he found Phillips lying on his back on the floor of the bedroom. Phillips said; "I shot myself." Witness said, "What did you do to the girl?" Rayner replied, "I shot her." Witness asked why he did it, and he said, "I had a reason for it."

Spencer Wheeler said that on Sunday Phillips borrowed witness' bicycle. He did not say where he was going. Phillips said to witness: "Is your brother going to take Miss Rayner for a drive this afternoon?" Witness said, "I don't know." Phillips said, "She has some jewellery belonging to me. If she doesn't give it back I will swing for her." Witness said: "Don't be a fool. If she doesn't give it back, let her keep it."

Constable Geurin stated that on visiting the spot where Alma Rayner was found at Wilbetree he discovered four pools of blood, and in one of them he saw two clasp brooches, a button, and a handkerchief. The condition of the grass showed signs of a struggle.

The Coroner found that Alma Margaret Rayner died on Sunday, 8th inst., from the effects of revolver shot wounds, willfully, feloniously, and maliciously inflicted by Claude Phillips, deceased, and that Claude Phillips died on the same day from a revolver shot wound self-inflicted.