THE CHRISTCHURCH SENSATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 69, 17 April 1909, Page 5

THE CHRISTCHURCH SENSATION

A JEALOUS LOVER. YOUNG WOMAN'S FEARFUL EXIPEISIEXCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchureh, Last Night. An inquest was held at the hospital this morning by Mr. liishop, Coroner, concerning the death of .lames () n -. wharf laborer, thirty years'of age. who' shot 'himself on Wednesday in a lit „f jealousy on the door„tcp of Xo. 13, Fillsgrave street, after quarrelling with a young womaa with whom he' had been keeping company. Sophia Spoor said she had not Wen engaged to Orr, although keepin- company with him with a view to "marriage. Orr asked her to marrv him. She asked for a couple of months' to arraire things. On Wednesday he asked her to marry bun in a fortnight. She wiid she wished to g„ for a fortnight's holiday and would inarrv him when sh. came back. He was'very jealous and said she should not go. At about '11.3 p.m. he said: "You will be a dead corpse to-night and me with von." They irot inside the gale and he «iid: "1 have Trot a thing h-re to do it with." Pullimout a revolver he caught both her hand.' aimed the revolver at her forehead, pulling tjie trigger three times, although Uie weapon did not go oft". When it refused to go off. he let her go and rushed to the gate to get near a lamp, apparently to see what was wrong. She then ran inside. Afterwards he tired a shot m the back yard to test the weapon. On Tuesday evening .W said: "I don't thick you have enough love for me, but you have day and 1 will have mine." This referred to Easter Monday, when she bad gone to the races without Orr. She had liked him very well up till last week, but had not intended to throw him over. "Are you sure Jie clicked the revolverf" 6aid the Coroner. "Yes," responded the witness. "Then you must have Jiad a very narrow escape of losing your life," replied the Coroner. "\ T ou are a very lucky woman, for by the look of this weapon he evidently meant business." Constable McConnack said he reached the house about 8.50 p.m. in the eom- .., pany of Constable O'Connor, and did not see Orr until they got to the gate. He was standing in the doorway speaking to somebody inside. They crept up quietly, and got on to the lawn, but when they were iibout six feet away he slightly-turned his head, and they saw a flash, the man falling en his left side.

The Coroner returned a verdict that James Orr committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver, and added that there was no evidence as to the state of his mind.