Attempted Murder and Suicide at Bourke St Opera House, Melbourne
A terrible scene occurred in the dress-circle of the Opera house on Saturday, July 2
4. Mr. J. J. Macgregor Greer, a young gentleman who only landed in. the colony a few days ago, shot his wife and Mons. A. L. Soudry, one of the members of
the French Exhibition commission appointed in connexion with the Melbourne Exhibition, and then attempted to take his own life. He was seated beside his wife during the evening, and when the curtain fell at the close of the fourth act M. Soudry took a seat next to Mrs. Greer. M. Soudry had scarcely sat down when Greer drew a revolver, and fired two shots in rapid succession — the first at M. Soudry, the second at Mrs. Greer. A third shot was fired, the pistol this time being aimed at Mons. Georges Bark, a friend of M. Soudry, who was seated in the chairs at 
the back of the circle. This shot missed its mark, and Greer then rushed along
the gangway. Putting the pistol to his ear as he ran, he fired a fourth shot into his own head, and fell on the floor, about 10 paces from the spot where the others dropped… meanwhile the lady and gentleman fired at had also fallen ; the lady lay stretched out on the seat, and the gentleman disappeared between the benches.
Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil, Saturday 31 July 1880
M. Soudry is a great draw for the French Court at the 
Melbourne International. About 2500 people daily accost him with the entreaty — ‘ Which man Mr. Soudry ? And when that ‘hero’ replies, ‘C’est moi,” 2499 out of the 2500 walk away disappointed.
Gundagai Times and Tumut, Tuesday 7 December 1880, (From, the Bulletin)
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