Tragedy in Southland.

Manawatu Herald, 16 August 1894, Page 3

Tragedy in Southland.

The Otautau correspondent of the Sonthland News wires that a miner named Fredk. Hooker shot at a boy named Reynolds and missed him, bat shot Miss Reynolds (aged 18) and broke her arm, shot her father dead, and then shot himself. Mrs Reynolds was away at the time. A message received by the police state that the tragedy occurred at the Merrivale diggings at 8 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, about two s miles from Merrivale Station ; that Miss Reynolds' forearm was shattered , her left thumb blown off, and several pellets lodged in her breast. Half an hour afterwards Hooker fired

at Reynolds' son a charge of small pebbles, but missed. Mrs Reynolds is missing, and has either been shot or lost in the bush. Hooker was found dead in his hutt about a mile from Reynolds', shot in the temple. Jealousy is supposed to have been the cause ot the tragedy. Mi3s Reynolds has been brought down to the Riverton Hospital. Mrs Reynolds has since arrived safely at Merrivale Station. Hooker threatened to shoot her, but she managed to elude him in the bush. The girl Reynolds died in the Riverton Hospital from the gunshot wounds inflicted by Hooker. The murderer is said to have boarded with Reynolds, although he had a hut of his own. No particulars are to hand. —Press Association.