ATTEMTED MURDER AND SUICIDE BY A DISCARDED LOVER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1278, 16 December 1884, Page 3

ATTEMTED MURDER AND SUICIDE BY A DISCARDED LOVER.

Some excitement was caused in Northeast Valley, Dunedin, lust Friday evening, by the report of an attempted murder and suicide. The report proved to be true. Baucaup Jacob Vandyke shot Mary Ann Wadsworth, wounding her slightly, and then tried to take his own life. A party was being held in Cameron’s Upper Junction Hotel. The party was attended by about a dozen or more people, among whom was Miss Wadsworth. Shortly after 9 o’clock Vandyke entered the room where the company was engaged in dancing and took his seat at the side of the room, but almost immediately rose to his feet and presented a revolver at Miss Wadsworth’s head and fired, Miss Wadsworth was at the time dancing with a young man who had been invited to the party. The bullet grazed the side of her neck, inflicting a slight wound, and she fell into the arras of her partner. Vandyke seeing the first shot had not taken effect, took aim wiih the intention of firing again, but the revolver missed fire. He then attempted to shoot himself, but being rushed by the bystanders the muzzle of the revolver was forced downwards, and the ball entered the floor. The men in the room, having secured Vandyke, proceeded to bind him with ropes, and at once sent for the police. Sergeant O’Neill lost no time in reaching the Junction, in company with Dr Martin, who attended to Miss Wadsworth’s injury. The wound was ascertained to be of a very slight character, and the doctor is of opinion chat the patient will be quite well in two or three days. Vandyke was conveyed to town by Sergeant O'Neill, who lodged him in the gaol. Shortly before 2 o’clock on Saturday morning, on searching him, among other things found on his person was a packet of cartridges. The bullet which struck Miss Wadsworth lodged in the sofa in the room, from which it was recovered by the police. Vandyke, who is a gardener, has property at the Junction, and has resided there for about six years. He is a German by birth, and apparently about 45 years old. Miss Wadsworth is 17 years of age, and the daughter of a dairyman well-known in the district. Vandyke is believed to have paid his addresses to her, and being accorded but slight encouragement, be became jealous. This is the only motive assigned for the crime.

Jocob Vandyke, was charged at the Police Court, Dunedin, on Saturday, with shooting Miss Wadsworth, but was remanded for a week. He bought the revolver on Friday, and is said to have waited for the girl on the road to the hotel, but missing her went on to the room.