WANGANUI SENSATION

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3890, 3 January 1929, Page 3

WANGANUI SENSATION

ASSAULT AND SUICIDE. Wanganui, Last Night. Mrs. D. Withey, the keeper of a sweet shop opposite the Opera House, was assaulted in her shop shortly before seven o’clock tonight allegedly by a man named George Alien, formerly a friend of hers, who then threw her into the street and barricaded himself in the shop armed with a double-barrelled shot-gun. Galled by the police to surrender he refused and went unmolested till after eleven as the police deemed it best in the interests of public safety not to precipitate action. The fire brigade w'as called out eventually and a hose was played through the back window,, but it was unable to reach Allen who then went into the front shop to recover from thq effects of .ammonia, which was also used in an attempt to drive him from his refuge. The woman was taken to the hospital when it was reported she was in a serious condition from scalp wounds.

Just on midnight when the police commenced spraying ammonia through the windows Allen shot himself. He was found dead when the door was broken in. • Allen shot himself through the throat, practically blowing his head off. Mrs. Dora Beryl Withey .is the second daughter of Mr. H. West, 81 Wilson Street. She had known Allen as a friend some months ago, but in October last trouble occurred between the two which culminated 1 in a violent quarrel which was ventilated in a Com! action on October 4. Allen appeared on a charge of causing damage to the window of “The Parisian.” It was stated that he iwont to the shop to see Mrs. Withey. She was out at the time and Allen took up a piece of concrete and buried it through the window. When the case was brought before the Court the defendant stated he had been drinking at the time and was also worried over money matters. He was ordered to make restitution and placed on probation for two years. Allen is described as a aged 32.