A WIFE'S TRAGIC MISTAKE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3130, 6 August 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

A WIFE'S TRAGIC MISTAKE.

A shocking domestic tragedy oconrred in the suburbs of Sacramento, California, recently, when Richard Ellswerk, a prominent and highly-respeutod merchant, was accidentally killed by his wife under peculiarly tragic oircumstancs. Mr Ellswerk was the father of two daughters, and lived in a pretentious suburban retreat. For some week* rumours that robbers contemplated a universal pillage of _ the neighbourhood had gained ground, and the inhabitants had been in a state of nervous suspense. On Tuesday night Mrs Elle. werk, who was sleeping with one of her daughters, fancied she heard someone at the front door. She ran to tbe window, hastily picking up a gun as she did so, and caught sight of the figure of a.man endeavouring to open the noor. She called out, but received no reply, and then levelled the gun and fired. When the alarmed household rushed out they were horrified to. discover Mr Ells werk lying on Us back in a dying condition. He said he could not explain how he came to be out of doors, and that be could remember nothing between the time when had gone to bed, hours before and the moment when he awoke, to find himself, a wounded and dying man, in tho garden. He was conscious long enough to have the error ' his wife had committed explained to him, and give her his forgiven es-s. He expired withinjhalf-an-hour. Mr Ellswerk had been know to suffer from somnanbulistn when a young man, but had given no aien of it for the past ten years. His wife is frantic with grief, and has to be 1 wtached to prevent her committing sulcide.