THE TRAGEDY NEAR OAMARU. Insane Jealousy of an Eleven Year Old Girl.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 108, 27 June 1885, Page 3

THE TRAGEDY NEAR OAMARU. Insane Jealousy of an Eleven Year Old Girl.

Oam abu, June 22. A ieawol tragedy took place at Herbert on Sunday night. Henry A. White, a youth of 20 yoara, shot Ada Patterson, aged 11 je^rs, with a revolver, and then afterwards shot himself. Death Mas almost instantaneous in both cases. White was the son of a storekeeper at Herbert, and Ada Patterson was the daughter of Mr Charles Patterson, a hotelkeeper, residing at the same place. The deed was committed at the hotel. The tragedy was the result of jealousy on the part of White, who was rather eccentric in his habits, and who had threatened to shoot the girl on Saturday last. The act was evidently premeditated, as White went into the kitchen armed with a five barrelled revolver fully loaded. The girl replied to his threat, "If you shoot me you would be hanged for it." To this he said he would also shoot himself. The affair has thrown quite a gloom over the township. The revolver was purchased in Herbert last week. Since it came into White's possession he had been practising with it at telegraph posts. On Saturday he nearly shot a resident who was trying to pick one of the bullets out of a telegraph post. White's eccentricity went the length of wearing his hair long, and tying it with ribbons. An inquest was held this evening at Herbert, when the father of the young man stated in evidence that hi 3 son had not been right since he had had rheumatic fever some years ago. Evidence was also given to show that White had frequently threatened the girl, who always appeared to imagine that he was joking. A letter, written by White the day previous to the tragedy, with regard to the young girl, addressed to Mrs James Patterson, was as follows :—: — 11 Herbert, June 20th 1885. The last wishes of me, Henry A. White, regarding tho disposal of my effects, I desire that £'100 be given to the family of James Patterson, Herbert, and £100 to Alexander Gillies, uncle to the family. Although this is not a legal will, I expect it to be carried out as desired. Thero will be some money over the £200, but that can go to vhoever wants it. These wishes are written under the impression that most probably I shall very soon shoot Ada Patterson and then myself. Thero is no very great need that I should explain mattors, etc. Let it sufiice for the present to know that it is simply through love and regard for the girl that I should think of ending her life here. I believe that knowing her as I think I do she would lead an unhappy life without me. [Here was a lot of writing which had been crossed out.] Suppose, then, she had never been mine. [Here ngain a few lines had been written, which had been crossed out.] The money is lodged in the Bank of New Zealand The receipt is in the little leather box in the bedroom.— -Henry A. White. " Most likely also, uncle Alexander will understand my action. Ada is of too generous and kind a nature, and too impulsive and sympathetic and unselfish, and too eensible to the highest emotion to be anything but unhappy in this world, I have left a copy of something like this for Charles White. Ask leave to be sent in ; also to Mrs Patterson." The jury returned a verdict that the deed was committed while White was Buffering from temporary insanity.

The Maoris of Rotorua have given Mrs Snow, mother of the American philanthropist, who did so much for the social and religious advancement of the natives, a touching farewell demonstration, prior to her return,to her home in Mapsuchusetts. Suicides are not always prompted to become such by the belief that a non-est man is the noblest work of God. Of course, one may entertain "angels unawares," but it is likely that 90 per cent of them will turn out to be loafers. $he only ' l cr6p thatggrowa by gaslight—Wildoata. '