FOUGHT FOR HER LIFE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 702, 30 December 1909, Page 5

FOUGHT FOR HER LIFE

AN INFURIATED HUSBAND. • , AND A REVOLVER. ■ : (By . Telegraph—Special Correspondents.) Auckland, December 29. :• A - Bcnsatiodal / attcm.pt, at • murder.; and suicide occurred about : ,n<xm - to-day, at . itlio house of a resident in First Avenue, Kinesland,. a: suburb 'of { ~Auckland.; ;It ; appears- that'. q. builder-named , George i Oliver,: aged 50, in a fit of temper wounded his wife twico. with fchots from a revolver, and then, out his own throat, though not fatally. . ' ••• From particulars ! obtained ■■ it would seem;:that: Oliver made ft determined effort to shoot his wife during the morning. ■ He : returned ,to his.- homo; shortly before 12 o'clock, and . called his wild, into.-the; ; bedroom. ; The, .pair , talking" for wme'time.; A daughter was' working in tho kitchen, ond a son-was busy outside, biit. neither.,had, ; any warning - thata tragedy was,iinpending until, tho eound of a revolver shot was heard,. .' ; ■ ; Both son and. daughter at once -rushed through to tho front of, the house,; and, ; as. they - did .so, tho sound of another shot. rang, out.?: Loud cries of "fielpl"wero also heard, and, as ■■; they entered the room, they beheld their parents engaged in. a struggle;il,Fighting .for; her life, Mrs. Oliver had- apparently seized tho revolver; as the man- prepared to fire., .The - shot wciit' throughher left,, hand,* , but; ; retaining her presence of mind, sho still clung to the revolver as jier husband' endeavoured to. again direct ; its muzzle towards her. She screamed . for holp, i and, despite a 6<icond : shot piefcihg ■ tho palm, of her. other ; 'hand, ' slio still fought to take possession of,' the'.weapon; I'lie arrival of tho son and daughter was. none.- tod;soon,;, and tho';boy,.seizing his father's arms frombehind, | held /him • while, the,mother and; daughter', between them wrenched tho; weapon from ..his hand. ■ Leading their mother from the house,/and throwing 1 tho. revolver, qver, into tlx© next-door neighbour's [ ijfiT'den, ; they,, then sought , refuge in- a/residonw aoross. the . street. '.In.the ineaiitimotho ,police were communicated, with,; and;, a passing carter;.' accompanied by- another man, went into' Oliver'shouse. . . the. : man was' still; in ■ a'l raging,: temper, . and managed to scare them oil the place, lio ; then- locked every door and window, and attempted to.'tako. his own life., ; Constable Wainwright, arriving ,on tho scene, found tho house still looted up, ;but could, hear;' Oliver walking about inside, and groaning .loiidly.V'Ho at,, once proceeded • to.break iu tno back" door, :'but, TJeforo ho. had. siiccceded in aging so, Oliver had opened the front.'dejor, and slipped out into tho street., ItUshing after him ' tho constable immediately grappled with the man.', f toevado arrest, but loss of bloou from - a wouiid in:his throat had made him weak, and ho was speedily placed usder restraint. DrsV, Grant attd - were, 6oon in attendance; and; after.. bandaging tho wounds of both husband and wife, ordered their removal. to the -.MS;: it appears, is a man of violent temper, and -laiuily .-.troubles have, lt. is reported,' led to ;frequent disagreements between him and his Wife,; while busir ncss. transactions at? .«»id;to have lately played on his mind. His . condition -is rather serious. ? Mrs. Oliver's condition! though'-' also serious enough,,.is not causing so much anxiety. ■■