HO WICK TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1930, Page 6

HO WICK TRAGEDY

THE FUNERALS. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Augut 11. Evidently Henry John Milieu, who shot his wife and then hinr-.ell at Howick on Sa,tarduv morning, had decided to end both lives. In a letter that lie left to his only son, lie stated that lie was tired ot all worry and trouble. “Aour uncle will look after you,” the note concluded. The funeral of the. tw > victims of the tragedy took' place yesterday afternoon at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Flat Bush, Papa toe toe. A long cortage followed the, two hearses, and many friends and relatives waited the arrival of the funeral a.t the cemetery, which is situated in a beautiful part of the district. Many beautiful floral tributes covered the caskets of the victims.

STORY OF AN EYE-WITNESS. ♦ AUCKLAND, August 9. Rita Howe, aged thirteen, the only spectator of the shooting, said to an “Auckland Star” representative:'' “I was coming along the road about nine o’clock this morning, and when opposite Airs Milieu’s house I saw a motor-car standing, outside Air and Airs Milieu were talking on the verandah, which is quite close to the road. They appeared to he talking quietly. Airs Afillan had a dressing wrapper on. I stopped as I. came abreast of the house, and Airs Alillen. asked me- in a quiet voice if I wished to put the cattle in the paddock. I said ‘Yes,’ and Airs Milieu called out to Airs Bellingham, who was inside, and told her that the cattle were to go into the paddock, and asked her to come out and open the gate. I then continued slowly up th e road, the paddock being a little further on. A moment or two afterwards I heard the door of Airs Alillen’s house slam, but did not turn round at once. A second afterwards I heard Airs Millen call out ‘Thelma.’ I knew she meant me, but thought that she had mistaken me for my sister.

“I turned round and found both Mr and Airs Millen were leaning against the verandah fence. Air Millen had both him arms around his wife, and appeared to be forcing her off the verandah; I ran towards them, and when I reached the verandah Mr Millan was bundling his wife to the road and towards the motor-car. He menaced to get her to the car, but Airs Alillen did not appear to be fighting to get away. Air Alillen pushed his wife against- the side of the ear and then, released his hold to open the door. As soon as'she was released Airs Alillen commenced to run across the road towards Airs Smythe’s house on the opposite side. I saw Air Alillan bend clown and take a double-barrelled shotgun from the front seat- of the car. and he moved across the road pointing the weapon at Airs Alillen. Before Airs Alillen got to the front gate of Airs Smythe’s house she stopped and .looked,.round, . ..When,. she, §aw, the gun pointing at her slie appeared petrified and stood absolutely motionless, and did not speak , a word. Air Alillen got Within a! couple‘ of yards of her and fired. The . shot missed and lie fired again immediately. Airs Alillen uttered a scream and fell down.

‘•'l was'standing on the side of the road, nearly opposite Mrs Sinythe’s gate, and when Mrs Milieu fell I ran a few yards up the road to where Mrs Bellingham was opening the gate, and called out to her. Mrs Bellingham had heard the shots, hut a shed had shut off her view. I told her breathlessly what’ had happened and she told me to go for the police.

“I ran off towards th^;police station, and on my way heard another shot, hnt. ran on and did not look hack. T reached thg jiolicevstatioih thnd info-m----od Constable BeycreanxJ of what had happened. andvOapie him. 'Mr and Mrs werp’ -lying, dead ' oti atvpajuh ’ .pf ? gi‘’a.ss : LvAiitjSide:" ’-the Sinvtlies’''''hdnVe. : ’.’ • - ..As'r