YOUNG WOMAN SHOT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8913, 5 September 1907, Page 2

YOUNG WOMAN SHOT.

Her Lover Attempts Suicide

Both Dangerously Wounded.

jealousy the Gauss

Per Press A ssooiation.

Inveucabgill, September 4,

Shortly after eleven o’clock on Tuesday evening ft shocking scene took place at Nightcaps. Henry Reid, miner, about 22, was the principal participant. He is a Tasmanian and came to live at Nightcaps seven or eight months ago. He lodged with Mrs Gibbon nearly the whole of that period and it seems that he fell in love with Miss Lydia Gibbon. 22 years of age. She, however, did not encourage his attentions, being engaged to another man, a flaxmiller in the district.

About a month previous to Tuesday night’s occurrence she told Eeid finally how she was placed and that she could not and would not have anything to do with him.

Jealousy appears to have been working till last night, when Reid could contain himself no longer. He had been working in the mine till eight o’clock, came home, dressed, went to receive his pay at about nine and returned at ten.

One of Miss Gibbon’s sisters, about 14, gave him supper and a few minutes later Lydia herself came in. Her sister retired leaving the two alone, the rest of the family being in bed. The only sound audible in the house was the quiet talking of the man and girl in the kitchen. Not long after eleven, P. Gibbons, carpenter, was startled by hearing two shots fifed in quick succession and another, apparently muffled a few minutes later. At "rst it did not strike him that the sound was from a firearm. He concluded it was the banging of a door, but presently heard groans and rose to find out the cause, but, hearing nothing more, returned to his room thinking that the groans came from some of the younger members of the family who were suffering from whooping cough. It was not until J. Poster, miner, who slept in the adjoining room, awoke him that he became alarmed. Foster cried “Whatever is the matter,” and both men got up without delay. There were lights burning in both dining-room and kitchen, and on opening the door leading outside from the kitchen they stumbled across the prostrate body of Miss Gibbon lying in a pool of blood. Tho two men carried the girl into the house, and Dr Baird and tho police were at once summoned.

The young woman’s face was blackened with the smoke from the powder, and a bullet wound was seen just over the right eyo. She was quite unconscious. About a chain away from the house, in and adjoining section, is a "Well about 23 feet deep, holding four or five foot of water. Hero held was found, groaning and clutching at the rope. Gibbon went down tho rope, and the swooning man was hauled up. He was all but unconscious, having shot himself through the palate. This morning both sufferers were taken to Riverton Hospital.

The doctor reports that both eases are very serious.

Reid is shot through the palate and the bullet has lodged in an inaccessible place at the base of the brain. The condition of Miss Gibbon is, if anything more serious. She was also shot in the thigh. Tho doctor holds out but little hope of recovery in either case. So far neither has been able to speak.

A packet of strychnine purchased from an Invercargill chemist was found in one of Reid’s pockets. Miss Gibbon was at one time attendant at Seacliff Asylum. Later.

The latest news from Nightcaps is to the effect that there is a chance of the recovery of both Reid and Miss Gibbon.

She was able to say “ No, thank you ” when asked if she wanted a drink oi water. It is stated that if she survives she will not lose the sight of her left eye under which the bullet entered.