A DUNEDIN TRAGEDY. JEALOUSY-ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE. Dunedin, December 13.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 81, 20 December 1884, Page 6

A DUNEDIN TRAGEDY. JEALOUSY-ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE. Dunedin, December 13.

Some excitement was caused at North East Valley last evening by the report of attempted murder and suicide. The report proved true. Baucaup Jacob Vandyke shot Mary Ann Wada worth, wounding her slightly, and afterwards attempted to take his own life, at a party being held in Camerons Upper Junction Hotel. Theparty was attended by about a dozen or more people, among whom was Miss Wadsworth. Shortly after nine o'clock, Vandyke entered the room where the company were engaged in dancing. He took seat at the side of the room, but almost immediately rose to his feet, ani, presenting a revolver at Miss Wadsworth's head, fired. Miss Wadsworth was at the time dancing with a young man who had been invited to the party. The bullet grazed the side of her neck, inflicting a slight wound, and she fell into the arms of her partner. Vandyke Beeing that the first shot had not taken effect, took aim with the intention of firing again, but the revolver missed fire. He then attempted to shoot himself, but being rushed by the bystanders, the muzzle of the revolver was forced downwards, and the ball entered the floor. The men in the room having secured Vandyke, proceeded to bind him with ropes, and at once sent for the police. Sergeant O'Niel lost no time in reaching the Junction in company with Dr. Martin, who attended to Miss Wadsworth's injuries. The wound was ascertained to be of a very slight character, and the doctor is of opinion that the patient will be quite well in two or three days. Vandyke was conveyed to town by Sergeant O'Neill, who locked him in the lock-up shortly before 2 o'clock this morning. On searching him, among other things found on his person was a packet of cartridges. The bullet which struck Miss Wadsworth lodged in the room, from which it was recovered by the police. Vandyke is a gardener, who has property at the Junction, and has resided there for about six years. He is a German by birth, and apparently about 45 years old. Miss Wadsworth is 17 years of age, and is the daughter of a dairyman well known in the district. Vandyke is believed to have paid his addresses to her, and being accorded but slight encouragement, he became jealous. This is the only motive assigned for the deed.