HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 52, 11 October 1887, Page 2

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

AN INHUMAN WRETCH, THE EFFECTS OF DRINK AGAIN. MAN ATTEMPTS TO MURDER HIS WIFE AND NIECE. Dunedin, last night. A shocking case of attempted murder and determined suicide occurred at a place called Lieth Valley on Sunday afternoon. A man named Edward Loft, accompanied by his wife and a niece named Miss Bury, were looking at some property, and in the course of conversation the subject of drinking was brought up. Mrs Loft made a rather sharp answer to a remark of her husband’s, and accused him of drinking again. This accusation exasperated him, and as his mind was already slightly deranged through a series of drinking bouts he had lately indulged in, he went on like a maniac, and drawing out from his pocket a revolver he discharged its contents at his wife.

One shot penetrated her left lung and came out of her back, another messenger of death had its cruel course arrested by the steel in her stays, another bullet shattered her thumb and forefinger. Miss Bury, who is only 17 years of age, behaved in a very courageous manner, trying to make Loft desist from his murderous work.

Loft thinking he had finished the earthly career of his wife, turned on his neice, and made an attempt to sacrifice her young life to his madness by throttling. After hard struggling both Mrs Loft and her niece made good their escape, and took shelter in a house tenanted by a person named Reynolds. The police were sent for, and upon two constables arriving, they with some others went in seech of Loft. When they had approached within fifty yards of him he put the revolver to his mouth and fired just as one of the constables was within a few yards of him. The bullet fulfilled its billet. A horrible expression passed over the face of the would-be murderer and suicide as he fell to earth. When the constable picked up the body the life of this poor victim of the demon drink was extinct. Mrs Loft was removed to her home. It is not expected she will recover. Miss Bury received no injuries.