THE PALMERSTON TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8098, 1 May 1906, Page 2

THE PALMERSTON TRAGEDY

SAD DOMESTIC HISTORY. MB PBBSS ASSOCIATION, Palmbbston Nobth, April SO. From particulars available in connection with the shooting affray on Saturday afternoon, it appears that the deceased (Mrs Knowles) was previously married to a man named Hadfleld, a boatbuilder, living near Nelson. Knowles, who at the time was known as Freeman, joined the 6th Afrioan contingent under that name. He was a driver on a 'bus and met deceased at a boarding-house where he was staying. They became intimate, and divorce proceedings resulted. He subsequently appeared in Palmerston, and was engaged for some time as & munieipal laborer. The parties appeared' repeatedly in the S.M Court on maintenance oharges instituted by deceased, Knowles failing to comply with the order of the Court. From the evidence adduced, it was gathered he was will., ing to live with and support his wife, provided she sent away the children of her former marriage, but this she na'urally declined to do. Knowles, it is stated, employed himself during part of Friday in practising with the revolver, and the fact that only 85 of the original 60 cartridges purchased by him were found on him by the polioe lend some color to this statement. THE INQUEST. VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER. PALMBBtooif, April 30. The inquest concerning the doath of Mrs Knowles took place to-day. William H. Mawhmoy was the principal witness. He said when he was coming into town about 1 o'clock on Saturday, he passed the house oconpied by deceased. The latter and Knowles and a child were standing at the hduse, Knowles partly on and off the verandah. Mrs Knowles was sitting on the verandah and tho child was standing close to her. Deceased appeared to be soothing the child.

Witness passed on, eyid subsequently hoard a scream. When he Lad gone six or seven chains the screams were repeated, and witnoss then turned round. He saw deceased running towards him, and Snowies was running after her. He (Knowles) caught hold of her, and witness saw (moke and heard a report apparently, from a revolver. In a couple of seconds he saw more smoke, and direotly after another roport. Deceased twisted round, and fell down after the second shot. He did not hear any further

shooting. After deceased fell, witness watched her for a few seconds, and then ran np Church street to Cook street corner, where he met a young man and asked him to go for the police, at the same | time tolling what had happened. Witness also met and told Major Dunk of the occurrence. Witness asked the latter to go down to the house, aiid he did so, witness following. Knowles was not visible when witness got baok to the house, but he came out of a gate by the house about half a minute later. Knowles came to where deceased was lying, and as he enme towards those there he said, " I am going to have another kiss. It will be the last. 1 suppose 1 will be strung for it." He added, " She's been a good wife to me."

Ho stooped down and Icissed her, and as he got up witness caught him from behind. He held his arms and asked someone else to search him. A revolver was taken out of his left hand coat pocket, also cartridges. I When the revolver w&s taken, Knowles said, "It is all right. I won't do any harm. The revolver is no good, or else I would be dead." He struggled then to put his hands in his pockets to get the cartridges. Witness-was Ipositive the shots he heard were fired before the woman fell. There wore between ten and twelve people present when the revolver was taken from Knowles. It was not in working order when taken. The one produced looked like the one taken from Knowles. Witness did not know how many chambers were I Jaded. A verdict of wilful murdor was returned.