SHOT BY HIS WIFE.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1600, 6 February 1906, Page 4

SHOT BY HIS WIFE.

At Bach Creek (Victoria), on January '23, Mrs Mary Ann Vaneensbcrgen shot her husband in the abdomen with a gun-shot. The family resided in a four-roomed house in a sparselypopulated neighborhood. About halfpast four o'clock the husband, l'eter Yancensbergon, returned home from the mine, where he works. Shortly afterwards he sat down to tea in the kitchen, and while the meal was proceeding a few words passed between husband and wife. According; to the wife's statement., her husband threw a basin at her, but. she succeeded in dodging it. He then got up from the table and attempted to catch hold of her, but she stepped back, exclaiming, "Leave me alone : I know what your lionsenSe leads to." Upon this he further abused her. She then left the room, and went into the bedroom. In a couple of seconds she returned with a shot-gun, and as far as can be gathered no further words passed between them until she fired the weapon. Vaneensbcrgen asserts that he was sitting at the table when the shot was ilrod, but hin--wife's 1 nl'-inent, which is borne out by that of an eye-witness, is that he was standing in the kitchen door, and she wtis a few paces aw : ay outside the house. Die whole charge of small bird-shot entered the man's abdomen, and he cried out : "Bv God, you ve shot me." He then walked a few paces yo. the 'fence and returned to the house. Sirs Vaneensbcrgen, who is thirty-three years of age, was placed under arrest on a charge of shooting with intent to murder. Her husband is thirty-six years of ago. Theyhave been married thirteen years, and 'have live children, the eidest beingtwelve years old. Their married life, according to Mrs Vaneensbcrgen's statement. has, during the last fewyears, been very unhappy, and she asserts that on one occasion her husband struck her in the mouth and KPjit .her lip open. Vaneensbcrgen, on being taken to the hospital, was placed under chloroform, but the whole charge of shot entered his abdomen, and the doctors state that his condition is dangerous. Late at night his depositions were taken by the police.