GISBORNE SENSATION

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1927, Page 1

GISBORNE SENSATION

W EDDING GUEST SHOT, jcv rig.‘•-•'i;Am— mat rjtESS association.) GTS 808 XE, .March 31. About eight o’clock to-night whilst Mrs Queenie Eleanor Pettit, a married woman about thirty-five years of age, was talking in the dining room of a friend’s house jn Mireni Street, where a wedding celebration was in pmgres., she was shot by a man outside one of the windows. 'There were two sliols fired with an American magazine rifle. The woman collapsed in the arms of Doctor McSweeney, another guest, and she died* al once. Both of the bullets tired had effect. They were flat-nosed bullets. One tore the muscles ol Airs Pettit’s left arm. while the other entered under her right breast. Immediately after, the startled crowd heard a third shot, and the victim's husband, rushing outside, met. the murderer at the front door. The murderer, having blood dripping from his forehead had a gun in his hand, saying words to this effect: ''l'll fix them' Fll shoot them!'’ Mr Pettit took the gun from Ihe murderer, who then ran on In the mad and disappeared. The police were communicated with. They searched the scene ten minutes later. Then a fourth shot, rang out in the locality. Two men. coming down Harris Street, found the murderer with his brains blown out, and a shot gnu beside him. The murderer was identified as ■Geo.ge Edward Nowell, aged 2.1 years. He was an Englishman, who had bc< n in the Dominion two or three years. He had a farm at AYaikotu, hut during the past two or three luonfhs he ban boon living in a town iiuardingliou-c'. Nowell was a married man. with a wile and child living at Auckland. It seems that Nowell really intended to attack the young woman who was married that day. but he shot Mrs Pettit in mistake. Airs Pettit was the wife of Air Michael Pettit, a well-known agent, residing at Wainui Beach.