SHOOTING TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1534, 16 August 1905, Page 3

SHOOTING TRAGEDY.

JENRAGED HUSBAND KILLS HIMBELF. {Fes Press Asnociaticn.) .Auckland, last night. A domestic firagedy occurred at Arch Hill last night. John Davies, a man aged 85 years, followed ,his wife to the residence of Mrs Alice Porter, where a single young man numed Richard Chapman was staying. It is allegod that his wife had been conspicuously in the company of Chapman 1 previously. The husband entered the house, and found his wife and Chapman together. Ho drew it revolver and fired at ,hie Wife and missed her. He fired at OhapmaD, the bullet grazing his stomach. Then be turned the weapon on himseii, •shooting himself in the forehead. He died instantly. Constable McGill had observed the man prowling around suspiciously, and follow'ing him heard Che shots in the house* -The constable rushed in. Davies turned the .revolver at him, but did not fire, immediately afterwards blowing out his own

’brains. Mrs Davies and Chapman came here from Sydney reoencly. Davies followed them. Davies had been prowling about after his wife, looking very dangerous. Hast night he was observod by the police, evidently in a dangerous mood. He was watohed by a policeman and another man. Davies, seeing he was followed, started running and jumped over a fence into the backyard of Mrs Porter’s premises. He .pressed his face against a window and •then entered the scullery and fired a shot •at his wifo. She threw herself to the .ground and escaped. Davis rushed past .her and fired at Chapman. Mrs Porter, ■entering, ordered Da-ics off the premises, He then in her presence, and in the presence of Constable Clew, blew his own brains out.

A DESPONDENT MAN,

(Per Press Association.) i Auckland, last night. An inquest on John Davies, who •attempted to shoot his wife and then shot himself dead with a revolver at Arch Hill •on Monday night, was hsld to-day. Evidence given by the deceased’s wife, Annie Davies, went to show that dsooased failed in business some five months ago, and had been very despondent over since. •Bhe bad frequently heard him threaten to take his life, and some three’weeks ago he tried to out her throat with a razor. In her opinion her husband was not responsible for his actions. She had given him no cause to be jealous. - = The jury returned a verdict of suicide •while temporarily insane. %