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Soldier Shot In City Hotel.
hi8 condition serious.
After having como safely through the
perils of the battle field with credit to
lumself and his country, Trooper E. W.
Broughton, of the 15th Queensland Light
Horse, was shot- in a city hotel an hour
or two after disembarkation. He now lies
in a critical condition in Caulfield mili
tary hospital. Trooper Broughton arrived
in port yesterday morning, and at 530
p.m., with several comrades, went into
the Royal Oak Hotel, Swanston-streeL In
the bar there were many people, princi
pally soldiers, some in uniform and some
in civilian clothes. A dispute occurred
and. high words led to a wrangle. What
followed is somewhat obscure, but someone
suddenly produced a revolver, and Brough
ton, it iB said, closed with the man who
hud it, in an attempt to take the weapon
irom him. During the struggle lie trooper
was shot, through the lower part of the
abdomen. The bullet travelled downwards
and emerged at the back of the right
tlugh. Broughton was at once removed to
the base hospital, St. ' Kilda-road, and
thence to Caulfield military hospital. The
detective, office was promptly notified by
telephone, and. Inspector Bannon sent De
tectives Nap thine and Claphanx to investi
gate the matter. They fonnd it most diffi
cult to get a connected statement from
anyone. Though all had heard the report
of -the weapon, no one would- admit' hav
ing seen" the shooting, but. one .man was
indicated by "Several as having had a re
volver in his hand. The man admitted this
fact. Been at the hospital by the detec
tives, Trooper Broughton said he did not
know who actually shot him. Later
Frederick Ellis Garratt, 22, a returned
soldier in civilian . clothes, was locked tip
on - a charge of shooting with intent to
murder. .
The hospital authorities were last night
inclined to regard Broughton's case as
tenons.
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