REVOLVER DUEL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1922, Page 12

REVOLVER DUEL.

ONE MAN DEAD. VICTORIAN SENSATION. A shocking tragedy, presenting sensational circumstances, and involving the use of firearms took place at North Brighton on New Year’s Eve, when many people were waiting to see the old year out. In the shooting .Joseph Rainsbury, aged 37. a concession bookmaker, was mortally wounded, and died in the Alfred Hospital next morning. Mrs. Julia Baker, aged 35. with whom Rainsbury boarded, received two JmjlIcts in the head, but her wounds are not dangerous. Her son, George Baker, aged 17, had his cheek scratched and powder blackened with a shot which grazed his right ear. George Baker, senr., aged 40, a rubber worker, and husband of the wounded woman, who had a sharp revolver battle with two constables, apparently turned the weapon on himself, and is in the Alfred Hospital with two bullet wounds in his head. Mrs. Baker and her son had been to the pictures, and Rainsbury had been to a boxing contest at the Stadium. Apparently Rainsbury was first home, and as he entered the house George Baker, senr., came, from a hack room, and the shooting commenced. Mrs. Baker and her son were shot at when they entered the house. The son threw a chair at his father, and also turned off the electric lights, but Baker switched them on again and the firing was resumed.

He then ran out of the house to a paddock opposite, and the police were informed of the shooting. They were waiting at the front gate for the arrival of the doctor and the ambulance when shots were fired in their direction from the paddock.

They exchanged shots, and subsequently found Baker in the paddock. He had evidently discharged two shots into his head.

The quarrel between Baker and his wife is of long standing. Recently he appeared at the Brighton Police Court on the information of his wife, who alleged that he had threatcred tier. Two revolvers were taken from him on that occasion. Ho entered into a bond of £2O to be of good behaviour for 12 months, and the case was withdrawn. Mr. Knight, police magistrate, ordered the confiscation of the two revolvers, remarking that though -he did not think either party would use the weapons, an aceident might happen if they were flourished indiscriminately.