Murder and Suicide at Nannine –

THE RECENT TRAGEDY AT NANNINE.
THE MURDER OF JOHN SUTHERLAND.
SUICIDE OF HIS ASSAILANT. THE INQUEST.

Full details reached the Murchison Times by the last mail regarding: the murder and suicide which occurred at Nannine about a fortnight ago. A brief account, received by wire, appeared in our columns at the time of the occurrence to the effect that Henry Augustus Muller, a man of very large independent income in Victoria, had shot John Sutherland dead, and then shot himself through the mouth with fatal result. At the inquest held on the 27th February, before Mr. McConl JP and a jury consisting of Mr O. P. Timperley (foreman), and Messrs D. Downey. Evidence was brought to show that bad blood had for some time previously existed between the two men on account of a case in the Warden’s Court, in which they were both interested.

One of the witnesses, R. C. Howes stated after the case above referred to, he heard Muller. say that Sutherland deserved shooting. The principal witness was John Hayes, who stated that about 12.30 on the night of February 26th, whilst in his tent he heard a shot fired, but took no notice of it until a second one resounded. He then went out and looked up towards Sutherland’s camp, from whence the report came. Immediately afterwards

he heard a man exclaim ‘you * ?#!* wretch.’

and saw a stockily built man walking from Sutherland’s to Muller’s camp. From the place where he (witness) stood he was unable to recognise the man. Walking up to the spot he saw Sutherland lying, apparently dead, outside his camp. He was on his way to give information to the police when he heard another shot fired.
Witness and police constable Grover went to Sutherland’s camp and found him lying on his back in a pool of blood, quite dead. He had a bullet wound in his left breast. Proceeding to Muller’s camp they found him lying on his back perfectly dead with a six chamber revolver close at hand. The roof of his mouth was almost shot away. Three shots had been fired from the revolver, three remaining loaded. On a table was a piece of paper containing the following words : ‘ I have shot John Sutherland; therefore blame no one else. — H. A. Muller.’ The jury after brief consultation, returned a verdicts to the effect that Sutherland met his death at the hands of Henry Augustus Muller, and that the latter met his death by his own hand.

Twas in that golden Western Land,
Where the hardy diggers toil,
And, with their strong and sturdy hands,
Wrest the treasure from the soil.
Where the mulga plains stretch far and wide
With golden reefs between
There, scattered tents and houses form’d
The township of Nannine.

Twas on the bright and summer day,
At noontide, hot and clear
Two pistol shots rang out apace
And closed a bright career.
Yes! Twas done: the ghastly deed,
And none could it recall,
For there was found poor Sutherland
His heart pierced by a ball.

But, still the brutal murderer,
As if for blood did yearn,
Smote again as his victim lay,
And fiendishly did him spurn.
No remorse this murderer felt
For the cruel deed he’d done,
But calmly walked to his tent,
And there a note begun.

“Twas I who shot Sutherland,
So therefore no one blamed”
Such was the note the people found
When to his side they came.
But though remorse he did not feel
Yet he with fear did quake,
And dreading vengeance that would come
His own life did he take.

‘Twas thus that awful tragedy
Took place in the light of day,
And two of God’s own image pass’d
From this bright world away.

HFE Mulga Lodge 28 Feb 1895