MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1830, 18 December 1888, Page 3

MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

Abgkiand, Deo. 15. Shortly after ten o'clock last night the •ocupantß of a block of tenements in SwaoioD street, known as Oowie'e row, weir* startled by hearing three shots fired in imcoession in the centre house of the block, and a woman variously known as Kalte Kennedy and Mrß Paterson presently ran out of ibe house, declaring she had been abet by Michael M'Dermott, a man ■ome 60 yearß of age, who resided there. Mr Wright, next door neighbor, at once inforioed Sergeant M'Mahon, who proceeded to the honse and entered it, directlog Wright to ring up Dr Hooper, and inform the constables on the beat. The •ergeant and Patrick Neylon entered the n house, which was rather miserable in its ■arruondings, and found M'Dermott lying en the bunk, with a revolver in his hand. There were two frightful wounds in the head. One'shot appeared to have gone in lit the left eye, gouging it eut, whilst there mi a second gbaßtly wound under the right ear. A bullet-bole was found in the lead board, and a bullet, after ■triVing the wall, was found flattened on the floor. Dr Hooper, probed the wound at the ear, but was unable to locate the poeition of the bullet. Be wua opinion the injuries were likely to prove fatal. The wounded woman was removed to her leßiidenct, Chapel street. She was found to have* bullet wound under her right breast. , It appears to have made its exit •t the ' left hit. She was perfectly sensible, but complained of considerable pain. Two cabs were procured, and M'Dermott and Mrs Patenon were removed! to the hospital. M'Dermott is an old 56th man, sixty years of age, and a bachelor, and for the past ten years had • haDd-c*rt in Q" eeD Blrßet - H <* first became acquainted with Mrs Paterson, ' whose husband is said to be in England, five'yeaia ago, when knocking about. Bbohad k b»en occasionally sheltered by him and «as accustomed to visit him pretty regularly during the past two years. Ho i» jwid to huve got Btrange in his mind. He had taken, to the woman, and wented to marry her, : but she refused. According to the'statements of the woman's assodatei/he iB said to have threatened to ao for her, while otherß bbj he threatened to •do for himself, as for the last two years his friendßhip for the woman had so unsettled his mind that he could not work, and his mean* had been dwindling away. ."His statement is that the woman was annoying him of late, and some unfortunates were coming to the house and robbing >him; that prior to the shooting she had * .been teasing him, mi taking his tobacco *ndpipe. ... " ■ Later. Mrs Paterson died in the hospital at (twenty minutes past three this morning. iHer account of the crime is that there was mo quarrel, but that Bhe had asked him lor a drink, and he put his hand under itbs pillow;, aa she thought, for some money, when he drew out a revolver and fired. The murderer is not expected to tocover* M'Deimott, being asked why he shot hirr-ielf, 5 said: " Because that woman, Eat* Kenaedy, ia tempting me and . robbing me, and has been at me these four or five years." He added :" 1 shot her, too; I discharged three shots—two ■•. at myself and one at her." The revolver J found in his hand wag one of six chambers. were empty and ihree loaded. . Dec. 16. At the Police Court on Saturday Michael ' " M'Dermott was charged with the wilful murder of Kate Kennedy. The prisoner, of course, did not appear. Serge ant-Mai or Pratt stated that the man ms in the hospital, suffering from the effects of the injuries inflicted upon himself. The case .was remanded until Friday.