ANOTHER PALMERSTON NORTH SENSATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8128, 30 April 1906, Page 5

ANOTHER PALMERSTON NORTH SENSATION.

TELEGRAMS. By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright,

A GHASTLY TRAGEDY, A MAN SHOOTS HIS WIFE. PAfcMERSTON N., April 28. Shortly after one o'clouk to day, Palmerston North was horrified by the circulation of a report that another awful domestic tragedy had taken plaoe in the western part of the town. Just about 1.5 p.m. a young man dashed up to the Police Station and told Constable Fitzgibbon that a woman had shot herself, but being in a state of excitement he could afford no further information. Sergeant Stagjole at once proceeded to the spot, and found that a woman, named Martha Knowles, had been fatally shot in two places by her husband, William Knowles, ; at one time a contractor of Paimerstoa North, but lately a resident of Feilding. Mra Knowles lived with her three little children near the intersection of Vest and Church Streets. The woman was found to be lying on her back in a water table, and just alongside a path. There were two revolver shot wounds, one in the head close to the mouth and one In the left breast. The body vvas removed to the morgue. The perpetrator of the outrage was found to be standing near the body in the custody of Major Dunk. Knowles was removed to the Police Station. He was perfectly calm and cool, and appeared but little affected by the consequences of his act, and offered no resistance to the police. On him was found about 35 cartridges, which fitted the large five-cham-bered revolver with whiob the deed was done. The parties in the affair have frequently been before the Magistrate's Court, Mrs Knowles suing her husband for arrears in oonneotion with a maintenance order. Knowles came in from Fielding by this morning's train in company with some friends, Mr Halford being among the number. Knowles and a son of Halfora's went to the Municipal Hall to view Hoknan Hunt's picture, "The Light of the World." After looking at it for a few minutes young Halford turned round and found that Knowles had disappeared. The police state that Knowles went to see his wife in Churoh Street, and that the [couple were seen to come out of the house. They were heard talking angrily together, and after going a short distance they parted company, the woman walking alone. Knowles was observed to follow her down the path, and soon afterwards struck her and threw her on to the road just by the kerbing. He was .then seen to deliberately pull a revolver from bis pocket and plaoe the muzzle against the woman's clothing and fire a shot through her breast. The shot through the bead then followed almost immediately, after this the man turned the weapon against himself, but the cartridge evidently jammed, and the shot m : ssed fire, in attempting to extract the firmly fixed oartridge he bent part of the mechanism of the revolver, and was unable to close the weapon again. \ I The only actual witness of the tragedy was deceased's son. a boy of nine years of age, who states that as soon as Knowles came home he showed a photograph of a woman to bis wife, and asked her if she wanted it. She said she didn't, whereupon he tore it up and afterwards threw the pieces in the garden. The boy's mother, who was dressed to go out and do some work, then went out; on to the verandah. Knowles followed her and they remained talking for some minutes. They did not appear to be quarrelling, though Knowles seemed cross. 'According to the little boy's story his mother had i,ot proceeded half a dozen paoes before Knowles got hold of her and said: '"I will shoot you." Ht bent Mrs Knowles across his knee, and shot her twice. Mrs Knowles screamed, and then laid down, on the path, partly in the water ohan-! nel. ! On the arrival of the police Knowles said: "Hero you are. If this had gone off (pointing to the revolver) 1 would not have troubled you." He was immediately secured, and the revolver was taken from him. Investigation Jshowed that the lock was broken, and it was consequently put out of gear. Two chambers had been discharged, the remaining four still being loaded. When Knowles saw his wife still lyiflg on the path he bent down and kissed her, remarking at the same time, to those who kept him in close custody, that, "She was a good wife to me. 1 hopie she is go-' ing to a better place than I am." He was quite 000 l and collected, I and told those who had hold of him that they need not get excited, as he was not going to run away. The shurt range at whioh the shots were fired was shown by the fact that the woman's clothing was singed and blackened. Knowles served in the Sixth Contingent.