PALMERSTON TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1737, 1 May 1906, Page 2

PALMERSTON TRAGEDY.

(Fen Preßii Association.) Palmerston Norlh, last night. From particulars available in connection with tho shooting affiay on Saturday afternoon it appears'that the patties appeared repeatedly in the S.M. Court on maintenance obarges, instituted by deceased, Knowles failing lo comply with the orders of the Court, From the evidence adduced it was gathered he wa3 willing to live with and support his wife, provided ebe sent away the ohildren of the former marriage, but this ehe naturally deolined to do. Knowles, it is stated, employed bimaclf during part of Friday praoiising with a revolver, and the fact that only 35 of the original 50 cartridges purchtsid by him were found on him by the police lends some color to the statement. Knowleß was foimally charged at the S M. Court this mornmg with the murder of hiß wife, and, on the application of the police, was remanded till next Monday.

THE INQUEST.

ii'i -i .i VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER

(Per Press Association.) PVmsrston North, last night, An inquest concerning the death of Mrs Knowles took place to-day. Wm. H. Mawhiney was the princ’ple witness. He said that he was coming into town about 1 o’clock on Saturday, and passed the house oooupied by deceased. The latter, Knowles, and a child were standing at tho housr, Knowles partly on aod off the verandah. Mrs Knowles was s tting on tbe verandah, and the obild was B‘anding olose to her. Deceased appeared to be soothiDg tbe obild. Witness passed od, and subsequently beard a scream. When be bad gone six or seven chains the Boreams were repeated, and witness then turned round. He saw deceased running towards him. Knowles was running after her. He caught hold of her, and witness saw smoke, and heard a report apparently from a revolver. In a oouple of seconds he saw mere Bmoke, and direotly aftsr another report. Deoeased twisted round and fell down after the second shot. He did Dot hear aDy farther shooting. After deoeased fell witness watched her for a few seoonde, snd then ran up Ohureh street to Cook street corner, where he met a young man, and asked him to go for the police, at the same time telling him what had happened. Witness also met and told Major Dunk of the occurrenoo. Witness asked the latter to go down to the housejs and he did so, witness following Knowles was net visible when witness got back to the house, but he oame out of the gate by tbe house about half a minute later. Knowles came to where deceased was lyiDg, and as he oame towards those there, also said, “ I am going to have another kiss—it will be the last. I suppose I will bs strung for it.” He added, 11 She’s been a good wife to me.” He Btooped down and kissed her, and as he got up wituess caught him from behind. He held his arms, and asked someone else to search him. A revolver was taken out of the left hand coat pocket, also cartridges. When tbe revolver was taken he said, 11 It is all right. I won’t do any harm. The revolver is ho good or else I would bo dead.” He struggled then to put his hands in his pockets to get tho cartridges. Witness was positive the shots he beard were fired before the woman fell. There were between 10 aod 12 people present when the revolver was taken frem Knowles. It was not in working order when taken, Tbe one produced looked like the one taken from Knowles. Witness did not know how many chambers were loaded, A verdict of wilful murder was returned.

SOME FAMILY DETAILS. (Per Press Association.) Nelson, last night. It is reasonably assumed tbst Mrs Knowles, who was murdered at Palmerston North, was formerly Mrs Hadfield, who kept a boardinghouse on the Port road, NelsoD, and was divorced from her husband, subsequently taking up with Knowles, who drove the Port train for Marie some years ago, Knowles also worked on the Motupeka railway exten sion. He enlisted with the Nrhon contingent far South Africa. Mrs Knowles formerly lived at Awaroa, Tateranui, and Mrs H. Nichols, her daughter, and also other members of the family, are there.

Knowles was known here as Knowles FresmaD, under which name he enlisted with the Sixth Contingent. He was also known as Freeman when driving an omnibus hero. The woman’s former bus baDd is Etill in the district, and she has eeveral relatives in the province, eome in $ good position.