Arthur Herbert

Murdered at Masterton District Court 1895 by a subcontractor of his road-building company.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Rōrahi XXXI, Putanga 3039, 7 Pipiri 1895, Whārangi 2 refers:

MURDER AT MASTERTON.

MAN SHOT DEAD IN THE STREET

A DELIBERATE SHOT.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

MASTERTON, Jane 6.

A man named Andrew J, Sommerville deliberately shot at and killed another man named Arthur Herbert, in Queen* street, tbis afternoon. Somerville bad been working for Herbert, and a dispute regarding a claim for £19 for wages, occupied the Court this morning, the case being adjourned for a fortnight.

Sommerville, on leaving tbe Court about midday, purchased a six.chambered revolver, and about four o'clock was seen talking to Herbert outside the Clnb Hotel, several persons being in tbe street at tbe time.

Suddenly he drew tbe revolver, and saying " Take tbat," fired a shot, which entered Herbert's body in the region of the heart. Tbe latter threw no bis arms, and , tuming round. staggered across tbe road. Somerville fired two more shots at him. and Herbert fell dead, the bystanders scattering in all directions.

Constables Collerton and Nestor, who were within fifty yards of tbe scene, rushed at the murderer, and secured him. The former took away the revolver, which on examination, proved to have three remaining chambers loaded.

Somerville made no resistance, and remarked tbat be would go qoietly. Both men are single.(note not corrrect) Herbert is an old settler. The other had been working On several contractsin tbe district, and Was generally looked upon as a qniet man.

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The Masterton Murder Case.

Per Press Association.

MASTERTON, August 5.

Addressing the Grand Jury, the Chief Justice, referiiDg^to the Masterton muider oas6, said the question of the sanity of the accused, Andrew J. Somerville, might be raised, but tbat was a matter for the consideration of the Judge, and not for tbe jury to consider.