SHOCKING OCCURRENCE IN WELLINGTON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1019, 19 October 1882, Page 3

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE IN WELLINGTON.

Considerable consternation prerailed in the city late afternoon in consequence of the circulation of a report that a gentleman holding high official position under the Gorernment had made an attempt upon his life under very peculiar circumstances, and the excitement attending such a rumor was greatly intensified by the reticence of the persons most concerned to afford any information on the subject. Enquiries as to the truth of the report elicited that a very sad affair had occurred ; but, up to the time of writing it was found quite impossible to obtain full and authentic details, and our readers will have to content themselves with an account gathered in rather an unsatisfactory manner. The most prominent figure in the tragedy is Mr W. M. Lewis, who for nearly two years past has held the position of Assistant Crown Law Officer, haying serered his connection with the firm of Buller and Gully in 1880, for the purpose of filling that office. For some time past Mr Lewis has been engaged to be married to Miss Agnes Dyer, daughter of a gentleman who for a considerable time acted as manager of the Wellington branch of the Australian Mutual and Provident Society, a position which he filled with great credit up to the time of his decease, and itwas arranged that the] wedding should take place yesterday afternoonr The ceremonial was looked forward to with much interest by the friends of both parties, and a very large number of invitations were issued on either side, with the result that there was a numerous gathering of guests at the appointed hour. The wedding was to have taken place at 2.30 o'clock in the afternoon, at St. Mark's Church, anil at that hour the building was filled with ladies and gentlemen. • Everything was in readiness for the ceremony to commence. The reverend gentleman who was to officiate had arrayed himself in'his surplice and gown, the organist liad started with his music, and the congregation cast many a glance towards the door to see whether the future hus»band of the young lady had reached the precincts of the sacred edifice. As there appeared to he no sign of his arrival, some of the intending spectators began to get uneasy, but none of them anticipated anything of a painful nature had taken place until a gentleman hurriedly arrived in a carriage and whispered a few words to some of the more prominent gentleman in attendance. Although the object of his sudden entrance was not made known to the others, and it was feared by all

that an unfortunate contretemps had happened, but very few of those present divined fhat anything of a serious nature had taken place. Immediately on the receipt of the message it was notified to the congregation that certain circumstances prevented the marriage coming off that day, and in a few minutes the building was quite empty, the guests taking their departure homeward, the majority of them wondering what had caused the postponement oi the affair. By degrees, however, it leaked out that the bridegroom had made an attempt upon his life a short time pior to the hour fixed for the marriage, and rumors were life as to the cause of such an occurrence. We understand from all that could be gleaned that Mr Lewis, who has been working very hard for two or three months past rose yesterday in his usual health and spirits, and continued in a very cheerful state until 1 o'clock, at which hour he retired to his room for the purpose of dressing himself for the approaching ceremony, in which he was to figure sc conspicuously. As the time drew near for him to proceed to the church, his mother, who had come up from Christchurch to attend the wedding, became uneasy at his non-appearance, and at length she entered his apartment, where it is said a sad spectacle met her jraze. Lying prostrate on the floor was her son, and m such a state as to create no little alarm. A messenger was at once despatched for medical assistance, and in a short space of time Dr Gillon, who was one of the guests, was in attend- ! ance at Mr Lewis' residence in Owen street. Dr Grace was subsequently sent for, and b/>th these gentlemen did what they could for the patient, who was found to be in a very dangerous condition. The nature of the injuries has not been communicated to us, but it is said that they are very serious, and at the time of writing the doctors arc unable t» state whether the patient will recover. The friends of Mr Lewis have made great efforts to keep the affair a secret, &nd they adduce several reasons for his sudden illness—one reporting that he is suffering from cerebral excitement, another that he lias congestion of the brain, and a third that he has been seized with apoplexy ; but we think that our surmise is correct. MiLewis, it may be mentioned, is about 28 years of age, and has a father holding an important position in Christchurch. The duty of breaking the sad news to the young lady was a very painful one and immediately it was communicated to her she fainted away. The shock indeed proved so serious that the services of Dr Diver were called in. The latest bulletin this afternoon states that the patient is in an exceedingly low state.—Wellington Post.