WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3751, 14 February 1907, Page 3

WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

YOUNG WOMAN SHOT DEAD.

Wellington, Feb. 12,

About 6.30 this morning Claude Paget, a carpenter, shot dead, Eleanor Pearl Axup, aged 17, who resided with her mother at 92, Abel Smith Street. Jealousy is alleged to he the cause of the crime. Paget fired three shots from a revolver at the girl. The fatal one took effect behind her left ear. Another buried itself in a window sasli while a third went into the floor. Later.

Claude Paget . was arrested this morning and charged with the murder of Eleanor Pearl Axup. The girl, who was 17 years of age, was fatally shot in the dining-room of her mother’s house, in Abel Smith Street, shortly after six o’clock. She, died shortly after seven. It appears that Paget had been, keeping company with Miss .Axup. This morning Mrs Axup, on going into the kitchen of her house, found Paget there. She asked him what he was doing , and he said he wanted to see Ellen to say "Good-bye,” as he was going to ’Frisco. He was told that Ellen was in the dining-room. He went there, and shortly after three revolver shots were heard. On entering the. room Mrs Axup saw her daughter lying on the floor, bleeding from a bullet wound behind the ear, and Paget, apparently unconscious, was lying partly under the girl. The police and doctors were sent for, and Paget, when he recovered consciousness, said he did not know n hat had happened. He bought the revolver yesterday. He was charged at the Court this morning with the crime, and remanded until February 18th. He is a carpenter, and is about thirty years of age. It is said that Paget lost his wife and two children in Sydney some two years ago, and that his moodiness increased since that time.

THE INQUEST. Letter Found in Paget’s Pocket. Later. An inquiry into the death of Eleanor Pearl Axup, the victim of yesterday’s tragedy, was held this afternoon by the Dictrict Coroner, the jury returning a verdict “ that death was caused 'by a bullet, fired by Claude Paget." The evidence given by the girl s mother, a brother of the and others, showed that Paget - had. visited the house on the'previous evening, in a state of intoxication. He did not then see tlie girl. This morning he entered the kitchen, at about six o’clock, and when Pearl came downstairs and went into the dining-room, he followed. A few minutes after shots were heard, and the girl’s mother, rushing into the room, saw her daughter and Paget lying on the floor. The former had a wound behind the left ear, and Paget was unconscious. The girl died within an hour after the arrival of the doctors her case being hopeless. Paget was not wounded, and appeared to be suffering from shock. When he recovered, he was charged with murder, and replied that he wished he had shot himself. In his possession there were 43 revolver cartridges. A weapon, similar to the one found on the floor, and a bag of fifty cartridges, were purchased by Paget at an ironmonger’s shop in the city on Monday. The mother, in her evidence, said there was no engagement for marriage between her daughter and Paget. The latter had asked the girfs father for her, blit he had refused owing to her tender years. The following undated letter, written by Pearl Axup to Paget, was found in the latter’s pocket: My Dear Claude— I cannot meet you to-night as I have made arrangements to go round to Oriental Bay .this afternoon and spend the evening,but if you come found to-morrow night I will be at hdme. Anyhow, kid,T cannot let you'go away. Anything rather than that. I could never forgive myself if you did go away. Besides, what would your mater think of me ? No, my dear boy, you will stay with me and we will not break our engagement off. One thing I will never be forgiven for is the pain I caused you last night. However, I can only try to make you happy now, and I can assure you I will do my best on that point providing you are agreeable to put up with my behaviour. Anyhow, Claude, I hope you will think none the less of me for telling you the truth last night, and I trust to make you as happy as possible in the future. Believe me to be, youts only, Pearl. I hope when you come round tomorrow night you will be in as high spirits as you were on New Year’s Lve. Much love from yours, etc., E.P.A.