Attempted Murder at Parnell.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 209, 29 May 1902, Page 3

Attempted Murder at Parnell.

A MAN SHOOT > HIS WIFE, HIS CHILDREN AND HIMSELF.

Auckland, M »y 26

Late this afternoon word was received by the police that a resident of Parnell, William Parker, had shot his wife and two children, and'the attempted to take his own life with a revolver. Mrs Parker and the children are expected to recover, but Parker is in a dangerous state

Additional particulars regarding the tragedy at Parnell show that Parker and his wife had lived unhappily fo” some time. He w.as much given to drink and refused to support his wife. She, with two children, one aged four years and the other nine months, was at her mother’s place. At about 3.o’clock this afternoon her husband, who had been living apart from her for teveral days, came to see her. When standing at the back door he is understood co have asked her if she would come away with him. Sh ; replied things very coolly,” and pulling a small 7-chambered .revolver on of his pocket fired -two shots'at her. One passed through her cheek, comma out at her mouth. The other struck her in the tempe. She was carrying the I),by in her arms, and the shock seems to have caused her to let it fall. The four-yca r- - okl child was also in the yard, and was shot in the arm by his father. The child then ran into the h mse ITi; baby was shot at b/ the f tlmr, ami was hit in tli i arm. Parker Jirwl several shots at th • baby, who was lying in the yard for fifteen minutes before F-ing rescued. Tiie mother mid cbildre i will almost certainly recover, but Parker's condition is serious.