Attempted Murder and Suicide

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 72, 15 December 1888, Page 2

Attempted Murder and Suicide

I PES UNITED PBKBB ASSOCIATION. > Auckland, December 14. At about ten o'clock this evening an old man named Michael McDermott shot a woman named Patterson and then fired twice at himself, in no case with fatal results. Tne man liveß by himself in a cottage in Swanson street, where he was visited to-night by Mrs Patterson, whom he had known for years. McDermott states that the woman commenced to tease him, while she denies this, and says that she asked him to " shout," and McDermott put his hand underneath the pillow of his bed to get, as she thought, j some money. He produced a revolver, and fired at her, striking her in the left ribs. He then inflicted two wounds on himself, one in the right ear and the other under the left eye, The man and woman have been taken to the Hospital. LATER PARTICULARS. DEATH OF THE WOMAN. Auoktand. This D.-iy. Mrs Patterson, shot by McDermott last night, died this morning. Deceased adhered to her former statements there was no quarrel, but in asking McDermott to shout he drew out a revolver and fired. Tho murderer is not oxpectod to recover from his self inflicted wounds. McDermott, on being asked why he shot himself, said — " Because that woman, I Kate Kennedy, is tempting mo, and robbing me, and has been at me this four or five years." He added — " I shot her too. I discharged three shots ; two at myself, and one at her." The revolver found in his hand was six chambered, with three empty and three loaded with lead bullets.