TRAGEDY IN NAIRN ST. RESERVE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2731, 28 March 1916, Page 6

TRAGEDY IN NAIRN ST. RESERVE

ENGAGED COUPLE FOUND

SHOT

LITTLE HOPE OF RECOVERY

Revolver shots wore heard in Nairn Street Reserve last night ahoat 10 o'clock, and, following these, tho sound of female screams rent the air. Investigation hy some residents of the neighbourhood revealed a traaedy, and doctor, ambulance, and police were summoned. The watch-housekeeper at Mount Cook received notice of the affair at 10.10 p.m. through a telephone message from Mr. Fleming, of Bidwell Street. Immediately after, Sergt. E. W. Soott and Constable Barnes proceeded to tho Reserve,- and on arrival found that a young' man and a young woman—both suffering from bullet wounds —were being attended to by Dr. D. Lloyd Clay, near the hollow at tho south-east corner.

The man, who was unconscious, proved to bo Emest Devoin, 26 years of age, a native of Australia, but recently in business as a hairdresser in Foxton. Tho young woman was Louisa White, 27 years of age, machinist, of 3 Devon Street. She was engaged to be married to Devoin, and the latter came to Wellington hy motor-car yesterday ostensibly for the purposel of being married to Miss White on Thursday next. In a statement made to the police Miss White says that Dovoiii was considerably worried about his business affairs, and they went for, a walk last evening to talk over the position. The conversation proceeded smoothly, and there was nothing in the nature of a quarrel. Near ten o'clock she remarked upon the cold, mid suggested that _ they should go home. The next thing she knew was that she wag shot in the back, and then she heard a second shot fired.

Dr. Clay discovered that Mi6s White was dangerously wounded in the spine, and probably suffered internal injuries, also, while the male victim was suffering from a bullet wound in the head, the bullet having pierced the skull over the right ear. Both patients were placed in the motor ambulance at 10.45 p.m.. and sent to the Wellington' Hospital. Devoin's injury was such as to loud little hope of his recovery, and his fiancee was also in a critical condition.

At the sceno of tho tragedy the police discovered a 32-calibre fivechambered revolver, containing three cartridges and two' empty .cartridge cases; The weapon has the appearance of being a new one.