DENTIST FIRED AT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 11 January 1913, Page 3

DENTIST FIRED AT

AUCKLAND SENSATION. | A WOMAN'S STItANGE CONDUCT. CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER. (B- Telegraph.—Press Association.) I AUCKLAND, January, <J. , • A sensational incident occurred in •Smeetoirs Buildings this morning i when a young woman named Kathleen Sommerville discharged a - l• ver at W. J. Colwell, a well-known, i Auckland dentist, and just missed by ' tho narrowest of margins. The incident occurred in Mr Col well s room and a statement of circumstances | which led up to tho shooting has been ; made by Mr Colwell. '• It appears that ■some time ago Colwell and the young woman were on . friendly terms. It is stated that she became madly "infatuated with hnn. and that for 'some considerable time past she 'had been making overtures to him which he ha<l rejected. She was continually ringing up his rooms an<l asking liim- to make an appointme.nt with her. i ) This morning the climax was reachLed. Mr Colwell occupies a suite oi i ' rooms in Smeeton s Buildings 'U ' Queen Street where he carries on his i business a, s a dentist. About 10 a.m. : Miss Sommerville appeared on tlie premises and then went auaj again. She returned about an hour later and wished to make an appointment with Mr Co 11 well. The latter's nurse met her on the landing and noticed that she was carrying a small brown-paper parcel under her arm. However, little notice was taken of this. The victor went, into Mr Colwell s office whore he was seated, and Mr ( Cohvell states she locked the door and j then made a proposal to him which he ; declined to listen to. She then became verv angry and threatened to kill him if ho did not accede to her requests. Mr Colwell at first told not to he foolish, but to go away quietly or ' else ho would be compelled to call tlhe police and have her removed. "THIS WILL END IT." Then the visitor did a most sensational action. She produced a par- ' eel; unwrapped it, and took out a revolver and somo cartridges. '' You still sav no. Then this will . ]end it." she said, and presented the I revolver at Mr Cohvell who was sittiiTT onlv some two pr three feet from hei-. She threatened to shoot him and then herself if he did not agree to her proposals. Mr Colwell fifterwards. stated to a "Heralld" representative that he had not the slightest idea then that, the weapon was loaded. _ As ishe still threatened him. Mr Colwell decided to end the matter, once and for all by calling in the police. and got. up from his chair to go to the next (room and telephone for a detective. ■ GRAZED HIS TEMPLE. The room wa<s not a very large one, and the woman stood in the middle of the floor a few feet from the door. When Mr Cohvell reached the door he found it was locked, and as lie was unlocking it she fired. The bullet \ missed him. Mr Colwell states, by about one-sixteenth of an inch, just grazine: his right temple, and passing clean through the next door, where it droppen on a lounge and then rolled on to the floor. Fortunately no one was in the dres- ' sing room at the time, though Mr Col well's nurse Mas in the-habit of lyiftg (in thel ounge for a little time* about that hour each day.. On hearing the shot, the nurse and Mr Tucker. Mr Cohvell's assistant, rushed to the door, which was •■itill locked, and attempted to enter. Mr /Tucker secured an axo. and tried to I break in the door. Miss Sommerville is alleged to have ishouted out "Come oil, Tucker, and I'll shoot you, too." By the time the door was opened she had escaped, by another door leading to the main passage, and she ran up the stairs with a smoking weapon in her hand." POLICE ARRIVE. The police were immediately notified, and Detective Hollis and Constable Smith, were, quickly on the scene. They found the young woman standing on'the, top landing in an excited state. _ ,ii She asked: "Is it me you re look- ' ing for?" but didn't want to go with them. , A search wa-s made, and a revolver was found wrapped in brown paper in a box on top of a cistern at the back of the landing. Miss Sommerville was taken to tlie police station and charged with attempted murder. Miss Sommerville is a rather goodlooking woman, about 28 years ot <i<re She is a mechanical dentist by profession, and. it is understood was thinking of going into business i Ol herself She was about four years ago employed by Mr Colwell. and subsequently served an apprenticeship of about three years with Mr Taylor, of Newton. She resided with her mother in the Great North Road. Colwell is a young man, .single, and resides with his parents in Ponsonby. AT THE COURT. During the afternoon Kathleen Sommerville appeared before Mr E. C. Cutten S.M.. charged with having attempted to murder W. J. Colwell. Chief-Detective M'Mahon applied for a remand, and asked that bail tshould be substantial, as the question was whether «he would repeat the. act. Mr Hackett. solicitor, said that, on behalf of Mr Cohvell. he had occasion ' to write to her, warning her that she would have to be bound over to keep j the peace if she did, not desist in her i (conduct towards Mr Cohvell. i Tlie magistrate remanded the accused till this morning, and suggested that, she .should lie detained for the night in the Salvation Army or some other home. ft was ultimately agreed, on the suggestion of Chiaf-Detective M'Mahon that she should not be re- ; moved to the gaol, but should spend the night at the police station.