A TRAGIC OCCURRENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10156, 30 December 1910, Page 5

A TRAGIC OCCURRENCE.

MASTERTON SETTLER SHOT. SERIOUS NOT , ANTICIPATED. , A tragic affair, which, happily, was not attended with serious consequences, occurred at Kopuaranga, a few miles to* the north of Masterton, at an early hour on Wednesday morning. From the details available it appears that Mrs Donovan, .wife, of Mr. J. J. Donovan, a settler: at Kopua-. ranga-, in. a. fit of dementia^. pcoeoEedi a pea-rifle about four o'clock in the morning, and shot her husband while he was in his sleep. The bullet penetrated the scalp at the back of the head, but, fortunately, did not prove fatal. Mr Donovan jumped to his feet, and assistance was quickly procured. The wound was bandaged, and he was brought in to Masterton, where he was attended byDr Archer ijlOSking. Though he lost a lot of blood, Mr Donovan retained his consciousness, The bullet has not yet been recovered, but Dr Hosking does not anticipate any serious consequences. Mr Donovan is at present lying at his parents' house in Masterton. The unfortunate woman, who did not appear to realise that anything serious had happened, was brought to Masterton, and was yesterday, on the certificate of Drs Hosking and Pryor, committed to a mental hospital.