ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 240, 11 October 1888, Page 5

ATTEMPTED MURDER.

A very determined attempt at murder was made at Lillydale by a man named George Syme, who endeavoured to shoot hi 3 wife, and seriously wounded his mother-in-law, & Mrs Clifford. Syme and his wife have lateljr been living apart. Last week he was served with a summons for maintenance. This seems to have aroused bitter feeling between the two, and Syme was advised to try and arrive ab some settlement. Professedly with this object in view he wenfe back to Lillydale and proceeded to the residence of his mobher-in-law, whom he met at the door. After some altercation with Mrs Clifford he drew a revolver, and fired at her twice, point blank. The first shot missed, bub the second one entered her right side, passed through her lung and came out through her back. Syme then went to look for his wife, who, hearing the shots, ran into a room, and was pursued by her husband, who fired twice at her, but neither shot took effect. Mr Straehan, baker, who called at tho house with the bread, heard the shots and rushed in and overpowered Syme, just as he was about to fire a third time. Dr. Dutton found on examination that Mrs Clifford's injuries were of a very serious nature, and held out little hopes of her recovery. , Mr W. Laidlaw, J.P., took Mrs Clifford's dying depositions, as ib was considered she could not live through the night.