Shooting Affray near Dunedin

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4970, 13 December 1884, Page 2

Shooting Affray near Dunedin

(Pee Pbess Association.)

Dunedin, This day

It is stated that a shooting case occurred at the Junction Hotel, about four miles out of town, on the Port Chalmers road, last night. It seems that a dance tood place there, during which a German rose up and shot a woman through the neck. It is not known yet whether the woman is dead. FURTHER PAETICCLAKS. Some excitement was caused in the Worth East Valley last evening, on account of a report circulated that an attempted murder and suicide had taken place. The report provri true. A man named Beaueoup Jacob Vandyke shot Mary Ann Wadsworth, wounding her slightly ; he afterwards attempted to take his own life. A party was being held in Cameron's Upper Junction Hotel; it was attended by about a dozen or more people, among whom was Miss Wadsworth. Shortly after nine o'clock, Vandyke entered the room where the company were engaged in dancing, and took a seat at one side of the room, but he almost immediately rose and, presenting a revolver at Miss Wadsworth's head, 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 wouud, and she fell into the arms of her partner. Vandyke, seeing his first shot had not taken effect, took aim with intention of firing again, but the revolver missed fire. He then attempted to shoot himself, but bsing 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. Sergt. O'Neill lost no time in reaching the junction, in company with Dr Martin, who attended to Miss Wadsworth's injuries. The wound was ascertain. 1 to be of a very slight character, and the doctor is of opinion the patient will be quite well in two or throe days. Vandyke w#s conveyed to town by Sergt. O'lSTeill, who lodged him in the lockup shortly before two o'clock this morning. On searching him, among other things found on his person, was a packet of cartridges. The bullet which struck Miss Wadsworth lodged in a sofa in the room, from which it was recovered by the police. Vandyke is a gardener, and has property at the junction ; has resided there for about six years. He is a German by birth and is apparently about 45 years of age Miss Wadswcrth is 17 years of age, and daughter of a dairyman wellkaown in the district. Vandyke is believed to have paid his addresses to her, and being accorded but slight encouragement, he became jealous. This is the only motive assigned for the deed.