DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1648, 15 January 1906, Page 2

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

WOMAN SHOOTS HER HUSBAND. THEN COMMITS SUICIDE. Sydney, Jan. 5. Last nightatLeichardta woman named Margaret Noonan, after firing two Bhots from a revolver at her husband, which missed him, turned the weapon on herself t and put a bullet through her heart. Mrs Noonan, 87 years of ago, resided at 34 Allen street, Leiohardt, and her husband, Thomas, had baen living apart from her for about two years, but the husband had been in the habit of visiting bis wife once a week and handiDg over to her some money. Ho generally reached Allen street at about 7 p.m , but last night did not get there till shortly after 8 o’clock. Mrs Noonan asked him what had kept him, and he told her that he had rheumatios. “ Oh; you’vo always got some excuse,” she replied. Noonan did not return her answer, but simply handed her his pay bag, containing £2, He then said, " Good night,” and turned to go. She followed him out on to the verandah, and producing a revolver fired at close rango. The bullet penetrated tho man’s vest Bud shirt, but, remarkable to relate, did not tench tho singlet, Noonan then ran out on to the footpath, with his wife in close pursuit. The man bad just reached the pathway when anolhar shot was fired, but it missed him. After that the wife went back into the

e bedroom and took a baby off the bed and *• placed it on the floor. One of the 18 daughters, named Rita, who is about IS' ft years of age, here endeavored to wrest-t®fL ] y revolver from her mother's hand, but shirks ' 8 could not. Mrs Noonan shoved Rita off, * exclaiming that sho was all right. Mrs 8 Noonan then rushed into the bedroom, 1 and kneeling beside the bed pointed the * revolver towards her heart and fired. She t immediately foil in a heap. r The husband heard the third shot fired, f and then took the obildren, who bad t rusbod from the house screaming, to a i neighbour’s house. ■ Io the meantime a boy had raced off to the police station aud given the alarm. ■ Senior-Constable Nelsen and Constable Lille immediately hastened to the scene, and just as they reaohed the house Mrs Noonau expired. , Thomas Noonan, who is a carter in the employ of Tooth and Company, and 38 years of age, told tbo police that he had visited his wife last Sunday and Monday, aud on both occasions she had flourished a revolver in frout of him, anl told him,I that she would give him what ho was looking for. R : taNccnan seaiohed high and low for the revolver on Tuesday aud Wednesday, but could not find it. It is thought that the do id woman wag a trifle demented, p,s ■ latterly she has been in the habit of smelling everything she was to eat, feariog that it might be poisoned. Noonan, since bp has been living apart -from his wife, bas taken up bis abode with his married sister, Mrs Keegan, who resides in Derwent street, Glebe. There are five obildren in the family, their ages ranging from 3 to 15 years.