DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9852, 3 November 1924, Page 4

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

MAX SHOOTS WIFE. THEN CUTS HIS THROAT BOTH VICTIMS IN HOSPITAL. FAMILY TROUBLE ALLEGED AS CAUSE.

OAMAIIU, Nov. 2. A terrible domestic tragedy occurred at Clyde Street, North Oamaru, about 7 o’clock this morning. John Holmes, a laborer, aged 65, years, purchased a pea rifle yesterday ostensibly for the purpose of shooting birds. Early this morning lie left his room and went into the room occupied by his wife (aged forty-two years) and discharged a bullet into her head behind the ear. Holfiics then went back to his own room, procured a razor and severed liis wind-pipe. A four-year-old boy who was sleeping, in a cot in his mother’s room, was' awakened by the report of the gun and rushed screaming to alarm his elder brother, who was sleeping outside. After being shot, the woman jumped through the window and staggered to a hut at the rear or the house where she told her eighteen-year-old son that Ills father had. shot her and asked him to go for the police and a doctor. She then collapsed on the floor. i The boy ran to a neighbour, surnI moned a doctor and afterwards sent

for the police. Constables could not eficct an entrance through the back door but climbed through the window. They found Holmes lying a pillow in the passage with his head against the door, bleeding profusely from a terrible gash in the throat Holmes stated that he had shot his wife owing to certain domestic trouble which he mentioned and said he was sorry he had not made a job of hirnself. The man and woman were both, removed to the public hospital. Use woman is in a serious condition and is not expected to recover, but the man’s injuries may not prove fatal. : The couple had not been living on the best of terms lately, and Holmes was suffering from kidney complaint and insomnia. The constables found a rifle in a room occupied by Holmes with an emptv cartridge. They also found a raxur in a pool of blood on tlm floor. The woman is Holmes’ second wife. She has a family of three boys and two girls, the eldest boy being aged nineteen. They had been married about twenty years. The police found a bankbook in Holmes room and a letter to the Public Trustee with instructions a-, ito the disposal of the property.— j P.A.