ATTEMPT TO MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4180, 13 December 1884, Page 3

ATTEMPT TO MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Dunedin, This day

Some excitement was caused in the North East A'allcy last evening at a report of an attempted murder aud suicide. The report proved to be true. Boucaup Jacob Vandyke shot Mary Ann Wadsworth, wounding her slightly, and afterwards attempted to take his OAvn life. A party being held in Cameron's Upper Junction Hotel was attended by aboui a dozen or more people, among whom was Miss Wadsworth. Shortly after nine o'clock Vandyke entered the room Avhcre the company were engaged in dancing, and took a seat at the side of the room, but almost immediately rose to his feet, und presented a revolver at Miss AVadsworth's head and fired. Miss AVadsAvorth was at the time dancing with a young man A\*ho had been invited to the party. The bullet grazed the side of her neck, inflicting a slight wound, and sho fell into the arms of her paitner. Vandyke, seeing th. t the first shot had not taken effect, took aim with the intention of firing again, but the revolver missed fire. He then attempted to shoot himself, but being rushed by tho bystanders, the muzzle of the revolver was forced doAvnwards, and the ball entered the floor. The men in the room having secured A-andykc, they proceeded to bind him Avith ropes, and at once sent for PoliceSergeant O'Neill, who lost no time in reaching the junction in company Avith Dr. Martin, avlio attended to Miss AVadsworth's injuries. The wound was ascertained to be of'a very slight character, and Dr. Martin is of opinion that the patient will be quite well in two or three days. Vandyke was conveyed to town by Sergeant O'Neill, Avho lodged him in the lock-up. Shortly before 2 o'clock this morning, on seaching him among other things found on his person was a packet of cartridges. The bullet which struck Miss AVadsAvorth was lodged in the sofa in the room, from which it was recovered by the police. A r andyke is a gardener avlio has property at] the J unction, and has resided thero about six years. Ho is German by birth, and apparently about 45 years of age. Miss AVadsAvorth is 17 years of age, and the dauglncr of a dairyman Avell knoAvn in the district. Vandyke is believed to have paid his addresses to her, and being accorded but slight encouragement he became jealous. This is the only motive assigned for the deed.