THE DUBBO SHOOTING CASE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2407, 3 December 1880, Page 4

THE DUBBO SHOOTING CASE.

Shortly after the close of Sir Patrick Jennings’s election meeting last evening the town of Dubbo was thrown into a state of consternation by the report that Mr J. O. Norton, police magistrate, had been shot in M'Cauley’s publichouse. The particulars are as follows : —“ As is well known to many, an unfortunate connection has existed for a long time past between Mr Norton and u rather attractive woman, locally known as Mrs Wilkie, whose husband, it will be remembered, held a respectable position as superintendent of a station in this district, but. some three years ago, was convicted of sheep-stealing from Mr Eyrie, and got three years hard labor. After his incarceration an illicit intimacy sprang up between the wounded gentleman and this woman. Mr Norton was present at Sir Patrick’s meeting, and after it concluded strolled down to M'Caulcy’s public-house, in which Mrs Wilkie had apartments. An altercation was heard immediately after he entered her room he apparently having accused her of some light conduct which aroused her violent temper, and she was heard to say, “If you charge me with that again, I’ll shoot you.” Within a minute after, a shot was heard, and, on the landlord trying to open the door leading to her sitting, room, he found it fastened inside. Under a threat to break it open, Mrs Wilkie opened the door, and coolly said “ Come in ; I’ve just shot Norton.” The landlord found in a few seconds that she had spoken only too truly, as Mr Norton was lying on her bed, bleeding profusely from a wound in the head. The police and the doctors were at once summoned. The ball entered behind the ear, and taking an upward and backward course lodged in or upon the brain. The doctors announced the wound a fatal one, holding out no hope, death being a lingering certainty. Mrs Wilkie, who had been in custody, was kept in the sittingroom adjoining, in order, if possible, that Mr Norton’s dying deposition might bo taken ; but his semi-comatose state rendering it impossible to do so, she was removed in custody to the gaol shortly after lip. m., a constable carrying her two-months-old baby. On leaving the sitting-room she said in a calm way, *’ I hope somebody will' see after my two little children asleep there.” Early this morning Mr Norton was removed to his own residence, where he now lies dying slowly. All the right side of his body is paralysed. Mrs Wilkie in 1872-4 was a resident of Gulgong, whore as Mrs Mitchell she was well-known. The pistol is a pocket Derringer, nickelplated, and belonged to Mr Norton. — Dubbo ‘ Despatch,’November 12. The latest accounts respecting the wounded Norton, report him to be lying in the same as when he was shot, with a bullet in his head, but no intention of dying.