FAMILY TRAGEDY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 161, 24 June 1935, Page 8

FAMILY TRAGEDY

YOUTH WOUNDS FATHER Son Later Found Shot Dead PARENT’S CONDITION SERIOUS By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 23. A dairy farm at East Tamaki was the scene of a tragedy shortly after noon, when, in broad daylight, Peter Hobson, aged 18, fired two shots at his father, wounding him critically with the second. He then took his own life. Mr Peter Hobson, sent., was admitted to the Auckland Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound between the eyes. His condition on admission was grave. The case presents several tragic aspects. The boy, who was known as “Sunny" Hobson, resided with his mother, who has been living apart from her husband for some time. This after, noon Airs Hobson was driven to Otahuhu to see her son’s dead body, which had been brought there from the farm, while at the same time doctors and nurses at the hospital were fighting to save her husband's life. Mr Hobson’s farm is one of 97 acres. Some months ago Mrs Hobson left the farm, taking her two sons with her, Peter being the eider, and she has since been employed as a housekeeper by Air Cocker, of Point Chevalier, Two brothers, Clifford Mullins and Noel Alullins, who were engaged by Mr Hobson as farmhands, have been living on the farm with him. Early this morning Air Hobson and the Mullins brothers rose to do the milking, and later Air Hobson drove his van into the city to deliver milk to his town suppliers On his return both he and Noel Mullins went to their respective rooms for a rest. A little later Clifford Alullins, who had been engaged on some farm work, returned to the house. He had been there only a tew minutes when he saw Air Hobson’s son walking across the farmyard carrying a pea-rifle. Alullins first informed his brother, and then went to warn Mi Hobson. FARM HAND'S STORY Noel Alullins immediatelywent to the front room, and when he opened ths door he discovered the boy still holding the pea-rifie. “Young Hobson raised the gun and levelled it at me,” Mullins said. “I did not wait to speak to him, but ducked back quickly out of the room. 1 found Mr Hobson, and when we returned to the room we found that the boy hadgone off through the window. We searched the farmyard without finding any trace of him, and then Air Hobson and my brother got into the van, intending to look for him down the road.” According to both the Alullins brothers Air Hobson had driven the van only a matter of ICO yards from the farm-house when a shot rang out and a bullet drilled a hole in the bodywork of the vehicle just above Mr Hobson's head. ‘‘The boss stopped the van,” Clifford Alullins said. “1 told him not to get out, but he would not listen to me. He stood at the side of the van with his hand shading his eyes looking out over the paddocks in the direction from which the shot had come, but within a few seconds another shot came. Just at that time I think my brother and I both saw ‘Sonny’ Hobson in the paddock about 50 or 60 yards away with his gun to his shoulder. We both called out to Air Hobson, but we were too late. He dropped almost as we called out with a bullet wound right between his eyes.” The two young men at that moment did not give another thought to young Hobson. They could see their employer was still alive, and as carefully as possible they placed him in the van and then drove as fast as they could to Papatoetoe, where Air Hobson was attended by Dr. Gilberd. By that time Mr Hobson was unconscious, and Dr. Gilberd, after dressing the wound, in which the bullet still lodged, ordered the ambulance and bad him sent to hospital SEARCH FOR SON. The shot had apparently been fired from an angle, and the bullet, entering the forehead, had travelled in the direction of the ear. The police were notified and Noel Alullins directed the constables to the spot from which he had seen the second shot fired, and about 20 yards further back young Hobson’s body was discovered lying on the grass. A bullet had passed right through his head, and the pea-rifle was lying on the ground beside him. Young Hobson was wearing only a shirt and trousers, and was in his stockinged feet. A search revealed a bicycle and overcoat hidden in a paddock nearer the road, while his shoes were later discovered hidden behind a hedge at the rear of the house. It was subsequently established that the boy find cycled from the city, arriving at the farm only a few minutes after his father’s return from the city. Mr Hobson is an Englishman, who has been in New Zealand for a number of years. He saw activc«fcervice with the East Lancashire Regiment in France, and had a notable war record. Since coining to Auckland he Ims been engaged in dairy farming at Howiek and Alanurewa, and took over his preI sent farm on lease about five years ago.