WIFE SHOT DEAD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 July 1937, Page 7

WIFE SHOT DEAD.

HUSBAND WOUNDED IN CHEST. SHOCKING TRAGEDY IN SICK DAUGHTER’a ixOOtvi. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, East Nigno. A fatal shooting tragedy occurred at Otokia at about 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, the victim being Mrs. Jessie Richardson, aged about 48 years. She was shot in the abdomen and died shortly afterwards. Her husband, Arthur Richardson, aged 53 years, was discovered near the house where the fatality occurred suffering from a gunshot wound in the lower chest. He is expected to recover.

The tragedy occurred at the farmhouse of Mr. Lobb, Richardson’s son-in-law, which is situated some 5U yards off the Main South road at Otokia, There is no other house in the immediate vicinity. Mrs. Richardson, who lived at Berwick, had recently been staying at Otokia looking after her daughter, Mrs. Lobb, who is seriouslv ill.

On Saturday afternoon Mr. Ldbb was absent from home and was visiting Dunedin to obtain some medicine. While he was away Richardson visited the house and the occurrence took place in the room in which. Mrs. Lobb was lying in. bed, Mrs.k Richardson being shot with a double-barrelled gun allegedly by her husband. She received the charge in the abdompn and was so severely injured that she died very shortly afterwards. Alarmed by the shot another man who was in the house rushed out for assistance and hailed some passing motorists. When the party returned a search w r as made and Richardson was found lying some distance from the house with a gunshot wound in the lower chest.

Dr. Shaw was immediately summoned from Mosgiel and Constable Southgate, of Outram, and Constable Phillipps, of Mosgiel, were also advise i and proceeded to the house. Communication was also made with the central police station and Detective-Sergeant Hall and Detective Taylor were des patched to the scene' of the crime. After receiving medical attention, Eiehardson was removed to the Dunedin Hospital by ambulance. Eich ardson is a labourer and at present is on sustenance. He has a family of six or seven children, four of them living at home. ' Mr. Lobb was unaware of the tragedy until he returned by train to Otokia and was met at the station. He was accompanied by another daughter of Mrs. Eiehardson who had just been discharged from hospital and was on her way home.. The inquest into the death of Mrs. Eiehardson will be opened at Dunedin to-morrow morning.