LOVE AND REVOLVER.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 March 1916, Page 8

LOVE AND REVOLVER.

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE SENSATION" IN WELLINGTON, • Shortly after 9.30 p.m. on Monday the Nairn Street reserve was the scene of a sensational aft&ir, in 1 which a man named Ernest Devoin shot his betrothed sweetheart and afterwards attempted to take his own life (says the Wellington Times). Both were taken to the hospital, tlie man being seriously wounded in the head, his condition, indeed, bein» critical. ° According to the woman's narrative, it appears that shortly before 9 o'clock the man, Ernest Devoin, who came to Wellington by motor-car earlier in the day, took his fiancee, Louisa White, a young lady of about 27 years of age, who resides in Devon Street with her step-parents, out for a walk. The couple, who were to have been married next Thursday, proceeded to the Nairn Street reserve, seemingly to have a confidential talk, he being somewhat distressed over business matters. At about 9.45 p.m. she suggested returning home, complaining of the wind. • She next heard the explosion of a firearm, and found that she was in the back. She then collapsed. Immediately afterwards another' shot was heard by several persons in the vicinity.

At 10.10 p.m. several telephone calls apprised the Mount Cook police of the occurrence. Sergeant <E. W. Scott and Constable Burns were quickly on the scene, and found: the man Devoin lying in a pool of blood on a grassy slope in the reserve in close proximity to Bidwell Street. The woman was a few feet away, with a wound that was bleeding profusely. A ..12 calibre five-chambered revolver, of a cheap bull-dog make, with •two chambers discharged, was found in the vicinitv.

A liasty examination showed that the man, who was unconscious, had a nasty 'bullet wound, obviously self-inflicted, in the right temple. The woman, who was •carceiy conscious, was bleeding from a wound in th B small of the hack. The bullet had evidently passed near the spine, and it is feared .has penetrated the intestines. The hospital motor ambulance was immediately summoned, and the pair were hastened to the hospital, where Dr. D. L. Clay, gave his immediate attention to the cases. The man was still unconscious, but . the woman -was able to give the police a few details of the occurrence. Both were in a critical condition, and it-was discovered that the bullet bad injured the woman's spine, while there was but a faint hope of the man's recovery. The man Devoin is said to be a native of Australia. A short time ago be came to New Zealand, and was engaged as a hairdresser at Foxtoti. Jt was stated that lie intended to stay with his fiancee's people until the day of the ivedding. The woman was employed in the city, and was living with her relatives in Devon Street, off Aro Street. < VICTIMS STILL IN DANGER. By Telegraph.—Pi-ess Association. Wellington, March 28. flevin, one of the victims of list night's tragedy, was partially conscious iliis afternoon, but there was no improvement in the young woman's condition. WOMAN'S CONDITION CRITICAL. Wellington, bast. Night. The depositions of Louisa While, the victim of last night's shooting affair, were taken this afternoon. Her condition is critical. There is a possibility that Ernest Devoin, who did the shooting, may recover.