THE SHANNON TRAGEDY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7140, 2 November 1901, Page 4

THE SHANNON TRAGEDY

THE INQUEST

An enquiry was held at the Hospital yesterday before Mr J. B. McMillan into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ethel Cameron. The following jury was ernpannolled :—Messrs Matravors (foreman), B. Edwards, Larcoinb, Muggridge, Ola re, H. Hanson. The following evidence was adduced by ■ ■Sergl.-. Major Barnsay :-— 3 ohn Henry Mills Cole, baker, residing at Shannon, deposed deceased was his

sister by ndoptiou, and had been staying. with him for iwo weeks. Deceased and his step-fatb.br, Hobbs, were at his house' on the night of tho 28th. Deceased,went down lo ihe train that night and "when, sho returned she informed witness that Hobbs bad asked her to wait for him but she would not do so Hobbs came in shortly after Miss Cameron. Previous to going to tho railway station Miss Cameron said Hobbs had wanted to make friends with her but she told him to go home to his wife in Foxion.

When Miss Cameron went to her room

on the Monday night Hobbs followed ■her, but Miss Cameron enme out of the room. She.then went into another room, where she remained al! night. He did not sco Hobb3 again till next in r:iing, but ho thought ho stayed in the house all night. Next saw Hobbs at 6 o'clock on the morning of the 29th in tbo sitting-room. Witness went out (o h:s bakehouse about 6.30. Deceased camo to the bakehouse about 6.45 She told h:m that Hobbs had come to her window that morning, lifted it up and said, " Not up jet, I wiil give it to you," or words lo that effect. Deceased then went back to the house and shortly after, witness heard a shot and scream. He rushed inside, and while doing so heard three or four more reports. He saw Hobbs in the kitchen standing by tho dresser. Deceased was in a crouching position near the corner of the room. Hobbs was turning round with a revolver in his righr. hand turned tn his left breast. Witness rushed iv through the door, and Hobbs pointed the revolver •■at. witness, who j

got round the corner, a shot being at the same time fired. He afterwards found that the bullet lodged in the doorpost. After the shot was fired he ran out of

(he frontdoor of the house, entered by the back door, and went into the kitchen where he found Hobbs lying on the floor, with,the revolver in his right hand. Miss Cameron was eornine from

underthe table. She said she was shot. He led her to a neighbour's house. He

went back to tlie house and then sent a telegram to Dr McXeuzic, of Levin, who arrived shortly afterwards,.: aud ordered the removal of the girl tolhe Hospital. So far as he noticed, Hobbs was not the worse for liquor. Hobbs was opposed to the engagement of Miss Cameron to one of his employees. ' This was the only reason he could give for Hobb's action.

. In reply to the jury witness said lie attached no importance to Hobb's actions en the night of the 28th, as he was always eccentric. Dr Macintire deposed as to the nature of deceased's wounds. In spite of all care she sank and died on the livening of the 30fch. The cause of death was shock and internal bleeding caused by the wound on tlie left side. Archibald Herroii, deposed he was a. coach driver employed by Hobbs. Witness was engaged to Miss Cameron. In January Hobbs has told witness he would never marry" Miss Cameron, but he gave no reason for his statement. Shortly afterwards Hobbs came aud apologised for his statement. Eoiraa Hobbs, wife-of the late George Hobbs, deposed deceased was 19 years of age last June. She was agreeable to the proposed marriage of deceased \utli' Herron. Deceased and Hobbs were in Foxton on Sunday last. Deceased returned to Shannon on Monday. Witness' husband was angry on Sunday because Herron had been in the house with deceased and himself. Before her

husband went away on Monday morning she asked him if he could not find another home on account of his bad temper. He said she was ordering.him out, and he would go, but she would regret it all the days of her life. He said he * would settle it this time. She did not know what ho meant by that. He had previously threatened to part Miss Cameron and Herron.• A short time ago witness, Hobbs, Miss Cameron and another boy visited America. : Hobbs returned in January last. Her husband was subject to violent fits of temper, but he did not drink to excess. He had a brother in the Wellington Asylum for some years.' Hobbs belonged to the Latter-day Saints. . Mrs Hobbs asked leave to make a statement. She said her husband had always been most kind and gentle towards her and her family, but he was subject to violent fits of temper without provocation. He had never threatened her as had been stated. Ho was also, very kind to Miss Cameron and had bought her a piano but a month ago. She had olten discussed the matter with Miss Cameron an > they had come to the conclusion that he.was insane, though hi 3 gentle manner towards them had deceived them. ■'■'-■■ . The jury after a lengthy retirement returned a verdict of wilful murder against the deceased man Hobbs. A rider expressing appreciation of Mr Coie's conduct on the morning of the tragedy was added,