THE DUNEDIN TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 9, 4 February 1909, Page 2

THE DUNEDIN TRAGEDY

*n IJS INQUEST. A KUKiIiTIOXKI) INDIVIDUAL. Ity 3 digraph.—l'resa Association, Diuicdii], l.iiit Night. All uupiest „|] dm | wi |y o[ y almK ,) "If" 1 " ,^ rouli "t »'Jto sliui liiniHclf at ■Maori Mill „a Monday 'night, was uui-u----'•'l to-day. ' Mixabeth Margaret Cameron, mother-in-law of di ceased, Miiti her daughter had been married t<> deceased for about *eveii vca/is. They lived together for about (wo year*, 'but during the re"fining live they lmd lived separately. Deceased missed hi* passage at Wellington about January 10 and returned to Dumslin. Mrs. .JJrookcg was al that time iu Auckland, and last Saturday *hc e.uue down to Dunedin. After tea on .Monday night angry words passed Iwlween deceased and his wife.

Mi>, liroolis was asking deceased for a ring of hers. Deceased, using oaths, refused to give it. Mrs, Itrook* insisted oil having it. ami witness went out to •try and niakie peace between them. Deceased said to his wife: "I will divmve you,'' and then sUted he had been ■to see a solicitor that day. Her daughter replied that he could divorce her, ,is she never intended to live with him again. He then threatened to strike

hei, and she retaliated with a sneering remark, upon which he struck her uud pushed her against a scullery bench. 'Deceased then struck her several times 'on the head, and she made efforts to , •protect her face. Witness went into 'the "kitdien ami asked her husband *n 1 separate them. He refused, saying lie 'would not interfere between man and 'wife. Witness the-a went back to the seullerv, and three revolver shots were tired. 'After the fourth shot was fired,

deceased fell. i Dr. Hastings said death was due to a bullet wound. Witness did not think the fractures present in the head could have, all been cause by a bullet, but tha fall would account for the fractures, i Evidence was also given by David Cameron, husband of Mrs. 'Notwithstanding that tins witness was in the kitchen during the whole progress of til* (juurrel and while the was going on, he made effort to interfere or assist, but sat calmly on the sofa. His reasons for so doing twpto that be \va* frightened, and it was only when the whole business had subsided that he ventured into the ecu.-

Jury. In tTie course of hi" evidence he .said lie heard three revolver shots flrcd in ([Mick succession. He remained where he was, as lie was frightened, and "had more sense tlmn to run into the mouth of the shooting." Wifeless went out into the scullery when the shooting was <>v«r and the noise had subsided. He heard shots anil screaming and struggling, but throughout he remained •wh&re lie was. ' Sub-Inspector Norwood stated Mrs. Brooks was in a privato hospital. The 'bullet had penetrated her cheek and had come out just under her eye. No (one was allowed to see her and she would not be available for the inquest for four days. The enquiry was adjourned until Monday.