THE CHERTSEY TRAGEDY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1843, 22 January 1889, Page 4

THE CHERTSEY TRAGEDY.

The following is the most important of the evidence given at the inquest on the bodies of the victims of the tragedy at Chertsey on Friday : Margaret Thompson, a widow, living on the village settlement: Knew deceased Mary Fahey, who came to her house about nine o’clock yesterday morning; asked ber to have some lea, but sbe refused, and said she could not live any longer with her husbaud, as be had beaten the baby. She then asked for a shawl to wear to Rakaia, whore sbe intended going to complain to the constable. Advised her not to.go, but she would. Lent her fourpence to help make up her train fare. Saw ber again about seven in the evening, after she had walked homo from Rakaia. Sbe said she was not going home, but would stay with witness. About halfpast eight in the evening met the husband, who asked where his wife Was. Endeavored to induce him to live quietly with his wife. Did net say where she was. He was crying, and went towards bis house, about thirty chains off. He was perfectly sober, and appeared ranch agitated at not knowing where she was. This morning deceased got out of bed about 7.30. Subsequently saw Fahey running towards the boose, laughing, Befort|cfaat had conversed with Mrs Fahey, who wanted money to get back to Christchurch. When her husband was running to the house advised Mrs Fahey to bide under the bed. Fahey ran into the house and searched till he found his wife under the sofa in the kitchen. Mrs Fahey said she would not go home with her husband ,* it was useless, she could not make it up with him. Then he coaxed her from under the sofa, and said he would give her all the money be had in his pocket. He handed ber his puree, and said she need not open it as he had paid the money he owed the auctioneer. She gave him back the purse after opening it, and said, “ You hays not drank so much; you have not drank anything.” Witness then advised them to go homo together. Just as the express was coming Fahey looked outside and saw Constable Black. He said, “He is coming; don’t you go outside, Mary.” He wanted to close the door. Witness requested him not to close it. Mrs Fahey wanted to get outside, and her husband wanted to keep her back. She got underneath his arm at the door and about a foot outside. Heard her scream, and and looking out saw Fahey with a revolver in bis hand pointing to her bead. Witness ran out to hasten the contstable. Saw one shot fired at her bead before sbe ran out. When he fired be had his left arm round his wife. Heard three shots, two when at the door, and one as witness raa to the constable. Thought the last ■hot wsfl fired at herself. Saw Fahey standing alone on looking round. Constable Black came as quickly as he could. Heard another shot, and ran ; and hid herself in the fence. When outside her own fence the fourth shot was fired, and witness saw Fahey lying on the ground. Never imagined he had firearms about him, Fahey said to bis wife he would put himself away for her sake if she liked. He said if she went away from him be would haunt her. Thought he was not sensible ; he talked foolish like. Constable Black, stationed at itakaia : At midday on Thursday Mrs Fahey came to Rakaia and made a com plant against her husband. Made arrangements with her to come up to-day. Received iastruqtions in the evening from SergeantFHt'oo, Came this morning by the express, tty hen about six or seven chains from Thompson’s house’ saw the two struggling in the (doorway. The woman was screaming, xfibey tired two sbofa ftt tier *,fhtiat he was holding her, and she fell to the ground, when he took deliberate *aim and fired at her again. Mrs Thomp Bon was running from the bouse acrer .noing. Made all baste to the scene. Fahey came oil the section and on to thp, road. I held up my arms and shouted t, O attract his attention. He 'opked at mo r, D( j muttered something inaudible; ha pointed the revolver prou C - 6 u W'h head and fired one shot, which did no'i titke effect. Before I could reach him he fi re d again and fell to the ground, j was very close to him when he ***'• Hie revolver dropped from bis . He appeared to bo dead, so I went J® nia wife ; she was quite dead. Went *or assistance to some platelayers working on the railway, who assisted in conveying the bodies to the hotel. There 1 found that Francis Fahey was olive. Tele- i graphed to the Sergeant at Ashburton for ! medical assistance on my way to the hotel. The jury returned a verdict in the case of Mary Fahey of “ Wilful murder ” against Francis Fahey, and in his own. case a verdict of “ Felo de ae.”