THE KAIWARRA TRAGEDY.

Evening Star, Issue 4284, 18 November 1876, Page 2

THE KAIWARRA TRAGEDY.

Yesterday morning the residents of Kaiwarra and the surrounding districts were thrown into a state of great excitement by the report that a man had shot his wife and then attempted to put an end to his own life, and the report was only too true. The followine is a statement as to how it came about: About eight months ago a woman named Flora Coleman, wife of Thomas Coleman, a laborer, applied for and obtained from the Resident Magistrate a property protection order. She was fifty years of age, and the mother of several children, Borne of whom are grown up. Ever since getting the protection order Bhe has resided *ith her father (Mr M'Kenz'e, a very old resident of Kaiwarra),. with her children; and, as far as is known, has conduoted herself properly. Her husband in the meantime has been wandering about the Colony, getting work where he could; but, as far as we oan learn, he has never done anything in the shape of maintaining his family. About a fortnight ago he returned from the Kumara diggings, and has been drinking Jretty heavily ever since, b'ome dayaago Mrs ohn Aplin was confined, and Mrs Coleman went to her house to nurse her. About half-past ten o'clock yesterday morning a knock was heard at the door of Mr Aplin's house, and MrsAplin told Mrs Coleman to go and see who was there. Mrs Coleman opened the door, and to her amazement saw her husband standing before her. Before she could utter a word he said, " Flora, I've a score tosettle.with you," andpnttinghis hand into his breast pocket brought out a small revolver, which he fired at her. The bullet struok Mrs Coleman in the left arm, inflicting a severe flesh wound. She turned to run away,,when Coleman fired again, the bullet this time entering the unfortunate woman's right breast and coming out at her back. She ran into the back room and then fell, and he went into the room which his wife had just quitted, and placing the revolver at the back of his right ear fired, but the nervousness which it may be supposed he would labor under must have tin* steadud his hand, for the wound which he inflicted oh himself wasnot as severe as he, evidently intended it to be. The instead of going in straight, went in a slatifc.

ingdireothm through- the bone 'et pfthe •ar.and oame oat>»bout *vOfttpl»of inches higher up. Mr A|lin, sri& w« ill the yard at the time, heard the report of the revolver, but did not* for a moment realise the true state of affairs. He had seen Coleman coming towards the house, and when < he heard the noise lie thought -that/the roan was breaking'.,the windows. He ran round to the front of the house, found the v door open, and saw Mrs Coleman lying on the floor in one room and Coleman in the other and the revolver close by. One glance sufficed to show him what had happened, and without losing time he called for. assistance, laid Mrs Coleman on * a, bed, and then galloped into town to report the matter to the police.; Dr Diver, who was called in, found that the outer plate of the manV skull wa* fractrnvd ty the but that he was not very seriously injured. With regard to Mrs Coleman, he found a plainly-defined wound (such as would be made by a bullet) on her right breast and a jagged wound on her back. He was of opinion that the bullet had passed right through her body. The following letter was found on the person of the man Coleman J—r v

■*». li\ deceitful wife, I write you thin " -for the last time. I dare say you think you played your cards well, you and your nephew StE** o ***' l P"P°Bedtolgo up to the Hutt, you told me you wouldleve? leave Kaiwarra, and you made your wor£ come true. You then formed a plan to bS ridof me; you then got all out of the house on the sly; youthenwont on a visit to see your nephew. When I went at ten o'clock to tell you to come homeW nephew brought a sword to me. HeandbJfl mother abusedme and called meeveryS that was bad, to try and get me brSkthf hvw, so as to get a court job. You for three days and three Janu J«ylmetyouand yourlUphew* Ft£3 wasgoingto.take me to. Court I asked was it for ffl-usingyotu h3 no; itwas for abusing me to teke the iSe^ Sdtor c renf^-it 1 #fc^j wanted me to WtfeXS' that ir you* TS&& ' to one side, and had private iSSLIi* He then cameto me wantito stand between me andX £to g£ said he would give me ah advieejf to be happy with my wife. mateVerT you then came horn IVt& 3 °A° f goio your nephew I £s*?%£?£ did I would empty my stomach; You SS me I could preach it for all you cared vi« told me that I could noTESonlw prove it but myself. You iuedto & up^wr^r^ v^^ •-, up rows. I knew yon wanted a Court inV 1 was aware of it, and used to^leWSr; house On the 26th February you coSSd yourobject, got up* row, and tore my face to T told you I would not strike you a? ?knoi you wanted a Court job; yTlriLi(fe blood to your face, and showed iiT-te ■«£'•'• neighbors, and then tookme to (5uS S JStfw?*! 1 y°« sieter's sawif Sltl fr .° myourllead » andthosethat ™™tlf y ▼** y°V u g ht to be ashamedof yourself. You wretch, you know I neve* - you or pulled hair out of yoS > m en of seeing me, or me to go and see them. If Iso to ' or I will kill them. On last New Yea?a night, when I went to ask you to<sme home, I found that they wanted a ww to £? 1? man »S e i*. he%en-began to tell about the night I was married,lnd if I remembered anything particular happeS ■Mg. I told him yes, I .remembered seeing you crying at the foot of the stairs, and your sister Jessie scolding you and told you ttat you ought to be as&ed ri your* Ht; ai -?fwT Saidhe *™ but a youngster. SUK 5f .^. B°*ething 8 °*ething upsWfrom 'SSSS 8 ? 1 !* he meant; but Mr Jones, of PahautanuL interpreted it to me in the Riyers and others that you were the tallTof ,' Ponrua Road for months afterwards. I knew you wish me dead and beyond the seas, and then you would throw'my daughter Jessie away on your nephew, but that won't happen whilst I am alive. Since you have ' been my wife I have proved you to to be a * Uar V 7 0U s*™ broken » better heart than ever belonged to you or anyone belonging to you. My death will lay on your soul and all them that advised you in your evil doings.-I remain your husband, Thomas Coleman." It appears that Mrs Coleman is Coleman's second wife. Coleman came out to the Colony in the year 184 S. For some time hef was employed at a tannery; and a few months ago he got his hand poisoned by some of the chemicals used in hiß work, which affected his health, and,-it is said! his brain also. Mrs Coleman had sunk so low that it was considered advisable to take her dymg declaration. It seems tolerably clear, from certain passages in the letter which we have omitted, that the man's motive for committing . the deed was jealousy; but Mrs Goleman denies that jahe ever conducted herself in such a way as to justify his suspicions. The bullet with which Coleman attempted to kill himself was found flattened on the floor by Sergeant Prioe It maybe remarked that while half tipsyoa Saturday afternoon he showed the revolver to a gentleman at Kaiwarra, but gave ne tunt as to what he intended doing with it. 'Post,'November 11. •