GISBORNE SENSATION

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1927, Page 3

GISBORNE SENSATION

TR A G EDY PA RTI C VLA R S

[bt telegraph—peb tress association.

GISBORNE. April 1. An inquest on Mrs Queenie Eleanor Pettit, the victim of last night’s tragedy, was opened this morning before Mr Levvey, K.M., Coroner, and after

identification was adjourned. 'l'he woman was not the intended victim, it appears dear, lor Nowells had previously threatened another member of the wedding party, the bride of a few hours. This young lady had been acquainted with the murderer who had conceived a mad infatuation for her, which led him to threaten her life should she carry out her intention of marrying another man. The victim l,oro a striking resemblance to the bride and it is supposed in his blind rage he did not wait to assure hnnselt of the identity of the victim. The murder took place in a small modern bungalow in Hirini Street, occupied h.v. Misses Alma Faulkner and Rene Holmes, with whom the bride, Miss ■Winnie Bennett, had been staying. „.fter the wedding of -Miss Bennett to James Oman, the party dined at the. Masonic Hotel and then adjourned to the bungalow. Those present at the time of the crime w,ere —Misses bauikner and Holmes, Mr and Mrs Pettit, Dr McSwoeney, Messrs Pitt, Langlands

r.ml Fred Martin. Shortly after the arrival of the party at the hotel Dr AleKweeney, Mrs Pettit and another were chatting in the dining room within a yard of the window, opening on to a vacant section at the side of the bungalow when, without warning, a shot was fired through the window-pane, striking Airs Pettit just below the shoulder, pass-

ing through her arm and entering hei body. The victim was killed almost instantly and swayed forward into the arms of Dr McSweeney.

Almost immediately another shot was heard and a few seconds later, Pettit, who was not in the dining room ran to the front door to investi-

gate the occurrence and was confront ed by a madman, who was endeavour* m j,ig to force his way into the house closed with him and wrenched the gun from him. Nowells had a slight wound in the forehead from which blood was flowing. An hour later lie was found Ivin- dead on the footpath in Harris Street, with the top of his head blown

away. ... Pettit did not become aware ot ms wife’s death for some minutes, for -having secured the rifle from Nowells ’he walked round the house to investigate the matter. Nowells was a native of England and husband of an English girl. He came to New Zealand three years ago. taking up a station property in Waikolm district. The venture, however, proved disastrous, the losses amounting to some thousands. His wife lelt um about three months ago. with the intention of proceeding to England, whither he was to follow. Airs Pettit leaves a family <>l three young children. GISBORNE, April 1. Further inquiries by the police show that the bride, Airs Oman, was actually in the room when the shot was fixed, hut at an angle, sheltered from sight of anyone peering in the window. When encountered at the front door by