THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 40, 16 August 1905, Page 5

THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY.

> .—.. — . EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. [BY TELEGRAPH. — TRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, 15th August. An inquest concerning the death of tJohn Davis,_ who committed, suicide after attempting to shoot his wife, was held at 2 o'clock beforo Mr. T. Gresham, Coroner. Dr. Sharman stated that when he arrived at the houso at about a quarterpast eight on Monday night, he found deceased lying on the floor of the back room, dead, and bleeding from a wound in the forehead about one and a half inches square.' ■ Death had taken pluce a few minutes before his arrival. ■ Richard Chapman, painter, of Ardh Hill, declared that he could not identify Davis, as he had never known him. Sergeant Williams: "Why, 'he lived with him for some time I" The Coroner ordered witness to stand aside, observing, "I shall know how to deal with him by-and-bye." Constable M'Gilp said that last night at about eight o'clock, several persons complained to him that a man, who turned out to be deceased, was prowling about at the back of some houses, as if searching for somebody boarding with 3\lrs. Alice Porter. Ho called on lira. Porter, and she told him the man was John Davis, and that he was looking for his wife, who was in her house. Witness and Mr. Murphy, a cabinetmaker, went lo search for Davis, to ask j him why ho was prowling about. They I had not gone far before they heard a shot. Meeting Chapman, he asked what ho -had been firing at. Witness then saw Davis- on the verandah with Sir*. Porter. Dayis pointed a revolver at witness, and then turned the revolver to his forehead and fired. He dropped dead at once. Chapman was very reticent right through. He made a remark, "It's a good thing he's gone, anyway" (meaning Davis). Mrs. Porter told witness Mrs. Davis was going to leave that night. She also stated that on a former decision deceased had taken Mrs. Davis from a room where she and 'Chapman were together. Four or five weeks ago witness asked Chapman an out Davis going to tho house and taking his wife away, but Chapman refused to say \ anything Annie Davis deposed that her husband was a steel expert. He came from Sheffield about four yeais ago. Hp failed in business in Auckland about five months ago, aitd they agreed to separate. He then went to Dunedin, and she took rooms at Mrs. Porter's. About three weeks ago her husband returned, and early one morning came with a revolver to where she was living, and told her to come with him. Ho took 'her to the Central Hotel, and a few days afterwards they went to live with Mis. Scott ih Queen-street. While there her husband tried to cut her throat with a razor, but Mrs. Scott prevented him. She then left .him, and took rooms in Cook-street, On Monday evening she went to Mrs. Porter's. Chapman and her husband were strangers, and there was no cause for jealousy. Her husband hnd been carrying a revolver for some time, and had threatened her life on many occasions. Richard Chapman naid he did not know deceased. Davis had no reason to be jealous of him. The jury returned n verdict that deceased committed suicido whilst temporarily insane.