TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1736, 30 April 1906, Page 3

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

CONTINGENTER’S CRIME. MAN MURDERS HIS WIFE IN the street. SHOOTS AND THEN KISSES HER. t *■>■< FUTILE ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE (Per Press Association ) Palmerston, Saturday. Shortly after 1 o’clock to-day Palmerston was horrified by the circulation of the report that another awful domestic tragedy had taken place, in the western part of the town. INFORMING- THE POLICE.

Just about 1.5 p.m. a young man dashed up to the police station and told Constable Fitzgibbons that _ a woman had shot herself, but being in a state of high excitement, he could afford no further information, SHOT TWICE.

Sergt. Stagpoolo at once proceeded to the spot, and found that a woman named Martha Knowles had been fatally shot in two places by her husband, William Knowles, at one time a contractor of Palmerston, but lately resident at Feilding. Mrs Knowles lived with her three little children, near the intersection of West and Church streets.

| SCENE OF TRAGEDY. FThe woman was found to be lying >n her back in the water-table, and just alongside the path. There were two revolver shot wounds, one in the head close to the mouth, and one in the left breast. The body was then removed to the morgue. CALLOUS MURDERER.

„ Tho perpetrator of the outrage was found to be standing near the body in custody of Major Dunk, and was removed to the lockup. The prisoner was perfectly calm and cool, and appeared but little affected the consequences of his act. He ‘’offered no resistance.

THIRIY-FIVE CARTRIDGES. On him there were found about 85 'Ssartridges,. which fitted the large fivecnambered revolver with which the deed was done. DOMESTIC TROUBLE. The parties in the affair have frequently been before the Magistrate's Court, Mrs Knowles sumg her husband for arrears of a maintenance order. A VISIT TO TOWN. Knowles came in from Feilding by this morning’s train in company with some friends, Mr Halford being among the number. Knowles and a son of Mr Halford went to the Municipal Hall to view Holman Hunt’s picture “ Light of the World.” After looking at it for a few minutes young Halford turned round and found that Knowles had disappeared. AN ALTERCATION. The pollco state that Knowles went to see his wife in Church street, and that the couple were seen to come out of the house. They were heard talking angrily together, and after going a short distance parted company, the

woman walking alone. THE AWFUL DEED Knowles was observed to follow her down the path, and soon afterwards struck her and threw her on to the road just by the kerbing. Then he was seen to deliberately pull the revolver from his pocket, place the muzzle against the woman’s clothing, fire a shot through her breast *A shot through the head then fol»tejved. ATTEMPT AT SELF-DESTRUC-TION. Almost immediately after the man turned the weapon against _ himself, but the cartridge evidently jambed and the shot missed fire. In attempting to extract the firmly fixed cartridge he bent part of the mechanism, and was unable to close the revolver again. AN EYE-WITNESS.

The only actual witness of the tragedy was deceased’s son, nine years of ago. As soon as Knowles came home he showed a photograph of a woman to his wife, and asked her if she wanted it. She said that she didn’t, whereupon he tore it up, and afterwards threw the pieces in the garden. The hoy’s mother, who was dressed to go out and do some work, then went out on to the verandah. Knowles followed her, and they remained talking lor some minutes. They did not appear to be quarrelling, though his father seemed cross. “ I WILL SHOOT YOU.”

According to the little boy’s story, his mother had not proceeded half a dozen paces before Knowles got hold of her, and said “ I will shoot you.” _ He bent Mrs Knowles across his '"Tinee and shot her twice. Mrs Knowles screamed, and then laid down on the ..path, partly in the water channel, stains of fresh blood mark the actual spot of the ghastly tragedy.

THE ARREST. On the arrival of police Knowles said, “Here you are -if this had gone off (pointing to the revolver) I would not have troubled you.” He was immediately secured and the revolver taken from him. THE REVOLVER. Investigation showed that the lock was broken, and it was consequently put out of gear. Two chambers were discharged. The remaining four were still loaded. | “ A GOOD WIFE TO ME.” When Knowles saw his wife still lying on the path, he bent down and kissed her, remarking at the same time to those who kept him in close custody that “ .She was a good wife to me; I hope she is going to a better place than l am.” A COOL MURDERER.

He wa3 quite cool and collected, and told those who had hold of him that they need not get excited ; he was not going to run away, The short range at which the shots were fired was shown by the fact that the woman’s clothing was singed and blackened. A CONTINGENTER. HML Knowles’s alias is W. A. R. Free- ’’ nian. He sorvod in the sixth contingent'.--