SAD TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1198, 5 August 1911, Page 6

SAD TRAGEDY.

MAN AND WIFE FOUND DEAD. RESULT OF GUN-SHOTS. (By Telegraph;— Press Association.) Dunedin, August i.. A very sad tragedy occurred at Tuapeka West last evening, between 5 and half-' past s'oV.ock. It happened in a house belonging tu Thomas Colehan, situated on what is known as fho Balclutha Borough Endowment_ towards the ■ lower end of Tuapeka West Settlement, / and a short distance from the Ifonoui Post Office. About half-past 5 one of Colehan's employees named Cowie came to the house for tea, and not noticing any signs of lifo had a look round, and discovered Colehan and his wife lying dead in the sitting-room. Mrs. Colehan was lying cm her back on tho floor with lier head on the sofa, and a wound 011 her left temple, while Colehan was lying alongside with his head resting 011 hi? wife's breast, with a pea-rifle between Mf legs, his right! hand on, tho trigger, and a wound on his right temple. . So far as can be ascertained tho last to see ..the couple alive was a neighbour named Mrs. Johnston,'.'.who . was in tho house- with them from 3 till 5 o'clock, She says she had no suspicion of anything hting wrong, as both Colelmn and his wife were, so far as sho knew, on the l>est of terms. Colehan was about 31 or 32 years of age, and his wife, who • was formerly Miss Ritchie, was about 25 years. They were, married about a year ago. Colehan came from Waitati before settling at Tuapeka West, his riiother having been for some years proprietress of tho wellknoivn Saratoga Hotel.

It is alleged that Colehan, whea the ■worso of linuor, was given to fits of temper, and it is feared that when in one of theso fits he committed tho deed.