A GISBORNE SENSATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 396, 11 June 1908, Page 3

A GISBORNE SENSATION.

Youug Man Shoots His Sweetheart. Gisborne, Tuesday. A shooting case which will probably end fatally occurred to-day at Pakarae, eighteen miles up the coast from Gisborne. A young woman named Winnie Peterson, aged 20, was shot by her lover, Walter Symons. Both the victim and her assailant were employed at Pakarae Hotel, and had been engaged for some time. At about 2 o’clock to-day, Symons called Miss Peterson into the yard of the hotel, and after a few words had been exchanged, he fired two shots at her from a revolver. One penetrated the head through the chin, and the other passed under the collarbone, and pierced a blood vessel.

The girl is in such a precarious condition that she is not expected to live- Symons then turned the revolver on himself, but was prevented from doing himself an injury. It is understood that Symons admits to have intended to shoot first his sweetheart and afterwards himself.

later Details.

Gisborne, June to,

The condition of the girl Petersen remains critical. The bullet was extracted from the region ol the heart by Drs. Collins and Reeve, at 4 o’clock this morning. It is feared the girl will not lastthrough the day. The shooting occurred, at two o’clock yesterday. Petersen, who was a verj' capable girl, had lately been in charge of the Pakarae Hotel during the absence of the licensee. She was iormerly engaged to Symons and they were to have been married in January last, but she broke off the engagement and it is understood he had been pestering her for the return of some money he had advanced her. Yesterday afternoon, according to the girl’s deposition, taken before Mr Barton, S.M., this morning he accosted her in the hotel yard and demanded his money. She stated she had none. He asked her to get some from Shaw, the licensee of the hotel. She replied that she had none due to her arid would not ask for what she had not earned. He then said, pointing the revolver at ■ her, “ Take this,” and fired two shots, both taking effect, one bullet striking her in the mouth, and the other in the region of the heart. A hotel employee named Harry Mays, hearing the revolver shots in the yard, jumped the back fence and rushed to the scene where he found .Symons about to discharge the contents of the third chamber of the revolver at his own head. Mays struck the man a blow on the arm and the revolver was discharged in the air. By this time Shaw, the licensee, arrived on the scene. Symous remarked, “ Jack, I have done it, and I am not sorry,” Shaw seized Symons, who was immediately bound with ropes and held till the police arrived, when he was arrested.

Eater

Walter Symous, charged with attempting murder, was brought to town this forenoon by Detective Rawle and Constable Dandy, and lodged in the lock-up. Accused will probably be brought before the Police Court to-morrow morning.

The Rev. Father Dane returned from Pakarae at mid-day, having made the journey thither to tender spiritual consolation to the sufferer. Her mother and two brothers from town were with her. A pathetic scene, the reverend gentleman stated, occurred when accused was taken to the patient’s room to hear her depositions. The sufferer said, ‘‘Walter, why did you do this ?” The reply was, “ I did it.” Seemingly unmoved, the prisoner added, “ This room is close,” and walked away.