ATTEMPTED MURDER

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 117, 15 February 1928, Page 12

ATTEMPTED MURDER

WOMAN’S NARROW ESCAPE SHOT FIRED IN DARK HUSBAND COMMITS SUICIDE Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, February 14. In the dark at 10.30 o’clock last night, William Henry Washbourne, aged 30, a mill hand, of Selwyn, entered his bedroom, pressed a double-barrelled shot gun against his wife's forehead, fired a shot, and then went outside and killed himself with the second cartridge. Washbourne no doubt thought that lie had killed his wife, but she had moved sufficiently to save herself from death. The shot seared the bed sheeting and passed through the wail of the house. The tragedy occurred at the home of Mr. Edward Washbourne, near the new Selwyn bridge, over the Main South Road. The younger Washbourne and his wife were living at the house. Washbourne is said to have suffered from fits of depression. He had been separated from his wife for about six months, during which time Mrs. Washbourne stayed at her parents’ place. Jealousy Cause of Separation. About two . months ago Washbourne went to her and pleaded with her to return to him. She would not at first, but returned about a • fortnight ago. l There were four children of the marriage, the youngest being a baby in arms. The cause of the separation is said to have been jealousy. Frequent quarrels led to a separation. When the ■ wife returned the two appeared to be living happily together with the children. Two days ago Washbourne became very moody, and made some extraordinary remarks to his wife. Yesterday, however, he seemed to be in good spirits, and the wife had no hint of the alarming experience which the night would bring. Gripped By Fear.

At 10 p.m. Mrs. Washbourne retired to bed, leaving her husband in the kitchen. He had taken his boots and socks off, and she thought that he intended to follow her to the bedroom. Washbourne always went to bed in the darkness, so that when about 10.30 o’clock she heard him in the room she had no misgivings. ■No word was spoken, but as the wife stretched out het hand towards her husband she was gripped by fear as she felt cold metal against her forehead. It was a doublebarrelled gun. She screamed and moved sufficiently to save herself from death. In her alarm she had deflected the barrel of the gun. There was a flash as the gun was discharged in the dark room. Mrs. Washbourne scrambled out of bed and hurried to her father-in-law, who was still asleep. In the excitement she did not see her husband leave the room. A Search Organised. Constable Moriarty, ,of Leeston, about ten miles away, was summoned, and was at the homestead within half an hour. He organised a search immediately, but it was not until after midnight that Washbourne was found lying in a potato paddock about five chains from the house. He had blown half his head away with the second cartridge. Leonard Washbourne, a ' brother, sleeping in a whare near the house, heard both shots. He thought, he said, that someone was' in the fields shooting rabbits. The youngest child of the couple was sleeping in a cot in the parents’ room. Mrs. Washbourne was not harmed bv the discharge. The marks on the sheeting and the hole in the wall show plainly that the gun was discharged at. very close range. She had a miraculous escape. A note found among Washbourne’s clothing after his death stated that he intended shooting his wife. Washbourne was found with a double barrelled shotgun lying .in the same direction as his body with the stock of the gun near his feet. He had. no boots or socks on, and it is surmised that he let off the gun with his toe. His boots and socks were in the kitchen. Believed Wife Was Killed. Washbourne had been depressed for the past fortnight, but was normal yesterday. He had never before threatened to take his wife’s life. In view of the husband having left the note, it is assumed that he believed that the first shot killed his wife. He left the room as soon as the first barrel was discharged, and did not wait to see its effect. Washbourne usually slept in the room in .which -his wife was. . The house is about two and a half miles from the Selwyn -bridge. The Washbourne family has been associated with the Selwyn district for many years. The elder Mr. Washbourne is a wellknown twine maker. Washbourne, junior, was in the twine mill yesterday, but nothing extraordinary was noticed about his conduct or appearance.

Airs. Washbourne, who is 28 years of age, was formerly Aliss Florence Annie Taylor, of Brookside.