AKAROA TRAGEDY

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1426, 10 April 1905, Page 2

AKAROA TRAGEDY

At the inqnest on John Sunckell, who committed suicide after murderously assaulting his wife, Lucy Sunckell, widow of deoeased, after describing the events which led up to the assault, said :—“ I had lived | with my daughter, Mrs Lelievre, einoe I June, 1903. I remember the deceased ooming to Mr Lolievre’s on March 21. Mr Harrow, myself and two daughters were there. Deoeased spoke to Mr Harrow and shook hands. I do not know where he went then. I heard one of my daughters scream, and wont into the kitchen and saw the accused striking Mrs Lelievre, who said, 1 He struck me in the face.’ Deceased then turned and struck me with a hunting orop, and I fell on the floor. I pulled tho deoeased down by the legs, and Mrs Lelievre screamed to Mr Har row, who was on tho verandah. Mr Harrow came in and struck deceasod twice with a little axe. Mr Harrow then went away. The deoeased continued to knook me about, I think with tho orop. I was still on the floor, os I could not get up. The deceased got up after a short time and said, ‘ I’ll settle yon, you — ; —.• He then want ontsido, and afterwards came and looked for a gun whioh was in a bedroom, but he could not find the cartridges. When told to find the cartridges, 1 said, ' I cian’t get up.’ Ho then went into the kitchen for the oarving knife, and, having got .it sharpened, said, • This is for you and me too.’ 1 then scrambled outside. Deceased then wont into the wash-house and got a tin of kerosene, whioh ho sprinkled about the back door. He then lighted the kerosene, setting fire to the house, saying ‘ I will roaßt yon, you .’ I rolled off the verandah, but he got hold of me by the shoulder and dragged me up. Some time after Mr Frank Lelivro came, and | then Mr Mansfield. The deceased sat dowD beside mo and watched the fire til] Mr Mansfield oame. He shook hands and spoko to ,Mr Mansfield, afterwards going away with the knife and steel (produced]. There was no [ blood on them, and there was no I injury to his throat when he went away. I did not know where he went. My daughter had gone for help. The deceased was not long on the ground after being struck by Mr Harrow. The deoeased had plenty of opportunity of carrying out his threat to kill me.’’