WAITARA SENSATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 443, 15 December 1908, Page 3

WAITARA SENSATION.

A Doctor and a Revolver. Woman Dangerously Wounded. 'Waitaka, Dec. 14. The town was startled this afternoon by the news of a tragedy. Word of it came out through Mrs Goode, wife of Dr Goode, of this place, rushing across to the house of a neighbour (Mrs Clare), and stating that the doctor had shot a woman named Mrs Klenuer. Some Borough workmen, the Rev J. B. Brocklehurst, and Mr Cliff Tate were soon on the scene, the first named goiug to the police-station, while the two latter went over and tried to enter Dr Goode’s house. Just as Cliff Tate entered the gate Dr Goode came to a French casement window and threatened that he would shoot Tate if he did not clear out. Messrs J. Morrison aud Trim, workmen, who by this time had got back from the police station, also saw Dr Goode at the window, and observed blood ou his shirt front. He presently locked all the windows. Mrs Clare went to the assistance of Mrs Klenner, and found her in her sitting-room in a state of collapse. After telegraphing for a doctor (Dr Claridge being absent in Urenui), Constable Price arrived 011 the scene and saw that Mrs Klenner was made as comfortable as possible. He then arranged tor two justices to take the depositions of Mrs Klenner, which were duly sworn before Messrs Camerou and Jenkins, J.P.’s, and the signature witnessed by the Rev J. B. Brocklehurst.

They were as follows : ‘' I, Mary Ellen Klenner, wife of Alois Klenner, depose that on Monday, December 14, Dr. Goode came to my front door, I cautiously opened the door, not knowing who was there. Dr. Goode came in and called me to him in the front room. He then locked tUe room door, and said: “Sit down, I want to speak,” (witness here alleged that he made a certain proposition.) I answered, “ No.” I then tried to go out of the room, but he jumped up and locked the door and said: “You won’t ” and then he shot me. He fired at me twice. There was another shot fired also. He said; “Are you dead?” but I did not reply. He then tried to re-load his revolver, but could not, and then he said he would go home, have some whisky, and then do for himself. This occurred at about 2.20 this afternoon.

Mrs Klenner’s house is next door to Dr. Goode’s. The unfortunate woman, who is in a very low state, has been removed to the New Plymouth Hospital. Two of the bullets were located, but the doctors deemed it advisable to operate at the hospital. A crowd hung round the house, bnt no attempt was made to effect an arrest until seven o’clock, when Constables MTvor and Price, with a number of volunteers, broke into the doctor’s house, the former closing with the doctor, who had just risen from the sofa.

Nkw Plymouth, December 14. Dr. Goode was brought on to New Plymouth to-night, and lodged In the cells. He apparently has no knowlepge of the occurrence and rails bitterly against the police for entering his house and arresting him. Mrs Klenner has been operated on, and one bullet extracted, but the operation is not completed. There are hopes of her recovery.

A later message states that Goode’s arrest was the subject of considerable excitement in- Waitara. He locked himself in his house, which no one dared enter until Mounted-Constable MTvor arrived from New Plymouth about 6.30 p.m. He immediately organised an assault on the several doors of the residence, he himself bursting in the surgery door. Goode, with the revolver in his hand, came to meet him, but MTvor at once threw himself on prisoner, and bore him to the floor, where he was secured. The revolver was found loaded in five chambers, and was wrenched from him by the incensed crowd, who also attempted to assault him, but desisted after raining blows which mostly took effect on the constable. Dr Goode is a very powerful man of about 17 stone weight, and over 6 feet high.