MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 326, 19 December 1888, Page 4

MURDER AND SUICIDE.

A SWANSON-STREET TRAGEDY. FATAL TERMINATION OF A LOVE AFFAIR. AN OLD SOLDIER MURDERS HIS PARAMOUR AND SHOOTS HIMSELF. Auckland, December 15. A verriblk affair happened in a two* roomed cottage situated in Swanson-et). last i evening, when an eldeily man nam*d Michael McDermotfc murdered his paramour, a woman of easy rirtue, known as Kate Kennedy or Mrs Patterson, and then attempted suicide by putting a couple of bullets through his own head. The cottage in which McDermott resided is one of what is know as Cowie s Row, and it was here that he was in the habit of receiving periodical visits from the woman Kennedy.

SHOOTING OF THE WOMAN. About 10 o'clock Mr and Mrs Wrigkfe, who live in the adjoining cottage, were at supper, when they heard the report of firearms, apparently discharged in the adjoining dwelling, and it wae at once feared that McDermott was doing something dangerous. Mr Wright ran to the door, and just then Kate Kennedy ran out of McDermotts front door moaning as if in great pain. Mr Wright ran after her and having overtaken her in the street asked "Are you shot?" and the woman replied ." I think I am." Mr Wright asked " Where ?" and she answered "On the right side. " She then sat down on the pavement in Swanson-street and remained there for a few minutea. Mr Neylon, another occupant of Cowie's Row, having also been alarmed by the shots, then came on the scene, and Mr Wright decided to give information to the police without delay. Kate Kennedy got up from the pavement without assistance and walked to her house in Chapel-street, and Mr Wright, having found Sergeant McMahon in Queenstreet, told that officer of the occurrence. In the meantime another shot ov two more shots were heard in McDermotts house, and from what was discovered afterwards it would appear that the unfortunate man had made a most deliberate

; ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDEj It was afc 10.20 p.m. when Sergeant ; McMahon was informed of the shooting, and ' he proceeded without delay to McDermotts , House, where Wright called on Constable i Russell and other policemen on the adjoining beats. Wrighfc also rang up * Dr. Hooper on the telephone at the Star Hotel. The sergeant entered McDermotts house in company with Mr Neylon. They found its occupant lying on a stretcher or bunk in the back room. He had a revolver in his hand, and blood was bespattered over his clothing and the bedding. He wai asked whether he had shot himself and replied in the affirmative. He was also asked why he had done ao, and answered, "Because that woman, Kate Kennedy, is tempting me and robbing me, and has been afc me this 4or 5 years." He added, " I shot her too. I discharged three shots— two at myself and one ab htr." The sergeant examined McDermott and found a bullet wound on the side of his head, near the right ear, and blood issuing from it. He alto found the loft eye very much swollen and bleeding, and there was a bullet that close to his eyt, showing that two separate shots had been put into his head. The passage ot one ball was evidently from the right ear to the left eye. The revolver found in McDermott'a possession was a six-chambered weapon. Three of the chambers were empty and three loaded with lead balls. The sergeant found a bullet in the woodwork of McDermotts bunk, showing that the bullet had passed clean through his head.

NOT EXPECTED TO LIVE. Dr. Hooper shortly afterwards appeared on the scene, and pronounced the man to be in a very critical condition. After examining McDermotl, he advised his immediate removal to the Hospital, stating that hit woundi ware dangerous, and liktly to prove fatal. Father Hackett, who had been sent for, baring arrived, administered •piritual consolation to the wounded man, aad then the latter was conveyed to the Hospital in a cab. He was received there at about a quarter before twelve (midnight), andwai given every possible attention. It was found that McDermott had sustained injuriei almost sure to prove fatal, for although the brain did not appear to hare be9n entered by the bullets, there wan a great breaking up of bone. He was quite sensible, but said very little about the occurrence.

THE WOMAN FOUND DYING. Detective Hughes, who had been aroused with others, turned his attention to Kate Kennedy, whom he found in a dying condition in her home in Chapel street. He found her in bed, but undresied, and took from her a statement with reference to the shooting. She stated that she went to visit McDermott at his own house laat evening, and that in the course of conversation she asked him to get her a drink. Then (according to the woman's statement), McDermott put his hand under his pillow, drew out his revolver, and shot her, while she was under the impression that he was getting money to givo to her. She added that she left the house as soon as she was shot, and that she was certain that she was going to die. In the meantime Dr. Hooper arrived and the Rev. Father Madan was also in attendance. Dr. Hooper found that the woman had even more serious injuries than the patient ho had just leffc. There was * bullet wound under the right breast and another wound near the left hip, where the lead had evidently made its exit. She complained of considerable pain, and Dr. Hooper ordered her removal to the Hospital, where she arrived almost at the same time as McDermott.

DEATH OP THE WOMAN. Everything that possibly could bo done for the woman was done, but without avail, and she succumbed to her injuries about 3 o'clock this morning. Kate Kennedy, or A! re Patterson, is, 30 far as is known, without friends or relatives in th« colony, and her huiband is believed to be in England.

FATAL TERMINATION TO A LOVE STORY. This horrible event appears to b« surrounded by somewhat romantic circumstances, and the relations that existed between McDermott and Kennedy have been the subject of general comment amongtt their neighbours for some years past.

THE SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY. McDermotb lived in a twc-roomed cottage in ft block of houses in Swanson-street, near the corner of Chapel-street. The block is known as Gowit's Row, and consists of six cottages, five having each two rooms and one four rooms. McDermotts abode was oae of the centre cottages, and consisted of two rooms about seren feet ififtrt} situated one behind the othtr. In tta ira»i rtoM Ikay* if a tiroktft paa«

through which the content! of the cottage can be seen. In this room (if room it can be called), is a small table Uttered with old papers and rubbish of various descriptions, and a few pieces of crockery, and the floor is in a beastly filthy state. The back room, called by courtesy a bedroom, holds a stool, upon which there is a candle and a bunk built ship-fashion, in which McDermott slept. This room, like the other, is in a filthy dirby state, neither evidently baring been cleaned out for weeks, "it was here that McDermott hud lived for some ten years past, but it was not always such a disreputable abode as it is at present. The change is said to have betn brought about by McDermott having fallen head over ears in love with the woman spoken of as Kate Kennedy, with whom he had been acquainted for about five years.

AN OLD SOLDIERS WEAKNESS. McDermott is an old soldier and a single vxnn 60 years of age, and ia spoken of by his neighbours as baring been a hard-working and highly respectable man up till within the last couple of years. He belonged to thes7th Regiment, and although he received no pension, was very comfortably off as regards finances not very long ago. He is well known in town as a handcart man, although for the lash two years he had done little or no work. It was about five years ago that he became acquainted with Kate Kennedy, otherwise known as Mrs Patterson, and he seemt to have ever since been infatuated almost to childishness. Kate Kennedy, as stated before, was a woman of ea»y virtue. Her age was 33 years, and she lived in a small cottage in Lower ChapeiHfcreeb. Sheiivedalone,andfrequently visited McDermott at his house in Swanson street. About this time five years ago McDermoit struck up an acquaintance with Kate Kennedy, who, it is stated, used to take refuge with him to avoid ill-usage by her husband. He took a fancy to her, and his liking soon developed into love. He asked her again and again to marry him, although he knew her character well enough, and on one occasion gave her money for the purposeof purchasing wedding garments. The wedding, however, did not eventuate, McDermott being put off from time to time. In this way a tidy little sum of £500 or thereabouts, which he had saved by hard wora and careful living almost amounting to the conduct of a miser, was squandered, and still his love endured. McDermott, however, grew morose, and careless in his habits. For the past two years he has done hardly any work, and allowed his dwelling to get into a very filthy state. The neighbours state that this sort of thing haa been going on for some considerable lime, and they believe that the man's mind had become somewhat unhinged. Latterly he remained in thehouseuntillatein the afternoon, and then went round to a restaurant kept by a Chinaman and had tea. This is believed to have been the oaly meal he had daily for the last three months, as he did no cooking, and had no provisions in the house. He was frequently remonstrated with by neighbours both with respect to his relations with the woman Kennedy and his manner of living, but without effect. Yesterday he was spoken to about Kennedy, and he stated "She has cost me £500." He also said, "It will be five yean ago to-morrow since I got in with that devil." During yesterday McDermott was visited by a drunken, woman who forced her way into his house and demanded money. He refused her demands *nd put her out, when she became very abusive and a crowd congregated. In order to stop the scene McDermott returned to the house and gave the woman sorae coppers, with which she cleared out. He then stated that he believed this woman had been sent round by Kate Kennedy to annoy him, and this incident is believed to have excited him very much. His feelings towards Kennedy of late would appear to have cooled slightly, but his love was not quenched, for up to the last he seemed anxious to marry her. He was in the habit of paying her fines at the Police Court when she was convicted for drunkenness, and the last fine he paid amounted to 14s 6d« Subsequent to this ■he was fined £5 and costs, and he refused to pay this, remarking to a neighbour that "It was too much." The woman had therefore to " take it out " in gaol, but on her release she resumed her visits to Kennedy and her sway over him. In short, he appeared to be a mere child in her hands, and the cause for his rash deed in believed to be disappointed and mure* quited love for an undeserving woman.

A STRANGE LETTER. A letter found amongst Mcßermott's effeeti and handed to the police bears out the supposition that the man's mind wai unhinged. The letter is dated October, 1888, and is written in a disconnected nanner. In this letter McDermott ■tatM that he "cannot say one word in extenuation of his conduct with that herrible woman more than that hii mind was completely unhinged by the terrific pressure brought to bear orer him by the press and stage." Further on he states that " the object of the woman was to tempt and disgrace him as much as ■he could, and that he was prepared to fulfil the requirements of justice." He does not, howerer, explain what the requirements of justice were, or what the press aad stage had done to him. He also enters into some reference to other parties who h*re caused him trouble. The letter will be read at the inquest on Kate Kennedy, whjeh has been fixed to take place at 2 p.m. om Moaday. On making inquiry at the Hospital this afternoon, we learned that McDermott remans u a critical condition. The doctors summed up his caie by saying that he might live, but that it was probable he would die in censequence of the rery serious injuries sustained.

A GRAND OLD SOLDIER. Mr Jobs Earl, tea merchant of Queenstreet), who frequently emploj«d McDermott ia yean past, made the following statement to a reporter :—": — " I have known McDermott ultimately for the last eight yean, and have had much of his confidence. He was remarkably intelligent, and strictly koneit in all hie dealings. Within the last three years, however, his manner became completely changed, and although McDermott was to a greatextenttoblame in the matter I am quite satisfied from statements which he lias repeatedly made to me under a promise of secrecy, that he has been Made a tool- of by those at least equally guilty, but more cute than himself, and this has preyed upon his mind until the grand old soldier, who repeatedly faced death in the service of his country, has spent his latter days in skulking about our back streets, under the impression that he was fceiag watched by every policeman in the place?*'