WIFE SHOT DEAD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 155, 19 July 1937, Page 11

WIFE SHOT DEAD

— Prese Association. )

Tragedy oh Otokia Farm HUSBAND WOUNDED

IBv Telegraph-

, ^ DUNEDIN, LMt Night . A tatai shooting tragedy occurred at Otokia at about 3.30 pjtti. on Saturday, ths victiin bsing Mrs. Jtasie Richardson, aged about 48 years. Sbe was shot in Ihe abdomen and died shortly afterwartta. Her husbandf Artnur BacfiardBon, aged 53 yeara, was discovered near the houae where the fatality occurred suffsring ftom a gunshot wou&d in ths lower che&t. He is expected to reoover. - i The tragedy occurred at tke farmihouse of Mr. Lobbj, Rdchardson's sou-iin-law, which is situated some 50 yards oif the Main South rdad at Otokia, 'There is no other house in the immedilatc vicinity. Mrs. Richardaon, who lived at Berwick, had recently been staying at Otokia looking after her daughter, Mrs, Lobb, who is seriously 111. On Saturday afternoon Mr. Lobb was mbsent from home and was visiting Dunedin ■ to obiain some medicine. Whils he was away Richardson visited the house and the oCcurrence took place in the roma in which Mrs. Lobb was lying in bed, Mrs. Richardson being shot with a double-barrelled guu allegedly by her husband. She reeeived the charge in the abdomen and was so severely injured that Bhe died very shortly afterwards. Alarmed by the 'shot another man who Was in the house rushed .out for assistance and hailed some passing motorists. When the pafty returned a seareh was made and Richardson was found lying some distance from the house with a gunshot wound in the lower chest. Dr. Shaw was immediafcely aummoned from Mosgiel and Constable Southgate, of Outram, and- Constable Phillipps, of Mosgiel, were also advised. and prooeeded to fhe houBC. Communication Was also made With the central police station and Detective-Sergeant and Detective Taylor were despatched to the scene of the crimO. After rseeiving medical attentiou, Richardson was removed to the Dunedin Hospital by ambuiance. Bichardson is a labourer and at present is on sustenanee. He has a family of six or seven children, four of them living at home. Mr. Lobb was unaware of the tragedy until he returned by train to Otokia $nd was met at the statibn. He was aceompanied by another daughter of Mrs. Richardson who had just been disch&rged from hospital and wis on her way home. The inqnest into the death of Mrs. Richardson will be opened at Dunedin tO'moriow moming.