AN OAMARU SENSATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2806, 4 November 1924, Page 3

AN OAMARU SENSATION.

TERRIBLE DOMESTIC! TRAGEDY. ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE. Oamaru, Sunday. A terrible domestic tragedy occurred at Clyde street, North Oamaru at about seven o’clock this morning. John Holmes a labourer, aged 68, purchased a pea-rifle yesterday ostensibly for the purpose of shooting birds. Early this morning ho left his room and went into the room occupied by his wife (aged 42) and discharged the bullet, into her head, behind the ear. TTe then went hack to his own room, procured a razor and severed his windpipe. A four-year-old hoy, who was sleeping in a cot, in his mother's room, was awakened by the report of the gun and rushed screaming to alarm his elder brother, who .as sleeping outside. After being shot the woman .jumped through the window and staggered to the hut at the rear of the house, where she told her eighteen-vear-old son that his father had shot her and asked hint to go for the police, and a doctor. She then collapsed on the floor. The boy ran to neighbour's and summoned a doctor and aftei .cards sent for the.police. The constables could not affect an enfrnne ■ through the back door, ini climbed through l.|ie window. They found Holmes lying on a pillow in the passage with his head gainst the door, bleeding profusc- ■ v from a terrible gash ni his throat. He slated that he had shot his wife

owing to certain domestic trouble which he mentioned and was sorry lie had not made “a job of himself.” The man and woman were both removed to the public hospital. The woman is in a serious condition and is not expected to recover, hut the man’s injuries may not prove fatal. The couple had not. been living on the best of terms lately and Holmes was suffering from kidney complain! ami insomnia. The constables found a rifle in the room occupied by Holmes with an empty cartridge. They also found a razor in a pool of blood on the floor.

The woman is Holmes’ second wife. She has a family of three hoys ami two girls. The eldest hoy being aged nineteen. They had been married for about twenty years. The police found a hank hook in Holmes’ room and a letter to the Public Trustee with instructions as to the disposal of his property. CONDITIONS OF THE VICTIMS. Oamaru, Last Night. The conaition of Mrs Holmes, the victim of Sunday’s tragedy, had slightly improved to-night, though the bullet has not yet been recovered. Doctors are hopeful that the in* juries may not prove fatal. She regained consciousness to-day. Holmes is improving and lias been, formally remanded on a charge of attempted suicide.