TRAGEDY AT PARNELL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 426, 27 May 1902, Page 2

TRAGEDY AT PARNELL.

MAN SHOOTS HIS WIFE, TWO CHILDREN AND HIMSELF. WIFE AND CHILDREN LIKELY TO RECOVER.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, last night. Lato this afternoon word was recoived by the police that a resident of Parnell, William Parker, had shot his wife and two children and then attempted to tako his own life with a revolver.

Mrs Parker and the children are expected to recover, but Parker is in a dangerous state.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. THE WIFE SHOT TWICE, FIRING AT THE CHILDREN, THE BABY NOT RESCUED FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES. ALL BUT PARKER LIKELY TO RECOVER.

(Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, last night. Additional particulars regarding the tragedy at Parnell show that Parker and his wife had lived unhappily for some time.

The man was much given to drink, and refused to support his wife. Mrs Parker, with her two children, one aged four years and the other four months, was at her mother’s place. At about 3 o’clock this afternoon the husband, who had been living apart from her for several days, came to see her.

When standing at the back door he is understood to have asked her if she vTtmld come away with him. She replied, “ No,” at which he said, “ Y'ou take tilings very coolly,” and pulling a small 7-chambered revolver out of his pocket, fired two shots at her.

One passed through her cheek, coming out at the mouth. The other struck her in the temple. She was carrying the baby In her arms, and the shock, it seemed, caused her to let it fall.

The four-vear-old child was also in the yard, and was shot in the arm by the father, The child then ran into' the house.

The baby was shot at by the father, who went on like a madman, and the : baby was also hit in the arm. Parker fired several shots at the baby, which was lying in the yard some fifteen minutes before being rescued.

Eventually he shot himself, in the wash-house.

He then staggered out into the vard where he was secured. The mother and children are e.lmosl certain to recover. Parker’s condition is serious.