THE SOUTHLAND TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4800, 15 August 1894, Page 3

THE SOUTHLAND TRAGEDY.

Further Particulars,

(By Telegraph,—Press Association),

IxvKKt'AlioiMi, Tuesday, According to the statement of Mrs Reynolds, Hookor, 011 Sunday morning, nsked the girl to marry him. Slio refused. He had asked several times before, with the same result. Tho father and mother also declined to consent. Hooker then asked for Reynold's gun to go shooting, and left the house. Ho returned shortly afterwards. Reynolds, who was sitting at tho door,asked if he had shot

any birds. He. replied "No," but that he would shoot Reynolds,which lie did. Mrs Reynolds, who was standing by, caught hold of tho gun, and Hookor threw her down and shot her daughter, aged 18, in the breast, thumb, and elbow. Mrs Reynolds ran into the bush and reached tho shelter of a shepherd's Vut, wlierj s!i; stayo I all night,

Lily Royuolds, tho girl, iiiadc a stale.nont before she died. Slio said she rail in the same direction as her mother,but after going some distanco fell through weakness on the grass at the side of tho path. Hookor camo along, but' did not seo her. She recovered strength, and reached the hut into which her mother went. A constable and doctor arrived late at night. The latter attended the injuries of the girl, who was afterwards taken to Mcrrivale, then to Riverton, where she died.

A boy, son of Mr Reynolds, states lie was out pig hunting the day the tragedy occurred. He went to Hooker's hut,and Hooker came along shortly afterwards and asked the boy to lend him his gun, which lie did, it being only loaded with powder, and Hooker put pebbles into it. The boy ran away, and Hooker tired, but missed him. Tho constable found Hooker dead in tho hut, the charge passing from the lower jaw out of the temple. ./•