FATAL SHOOTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 195, 19 July 1937, Page 8

FATAL SHOOTING.

OTAGO'S WOMAN’S DEATH. HUSBAND FOUND INJURED. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, July 1(3. A fatal shooting tragedy occurred at Otokia. at about 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, tire victim being Mrs Jessie Richardson, aged about 48 years. She was shot in the abdomen and died shortly afterward. 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 50 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 seriously ill. On Saturday afternoon Mr Lobb 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 Richardson being shot with a double-barrelled gun. She received the charge in the abdomen .and was so severely injured that she died very shortly afterward. 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 was 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 Moagiel and Constable Southgate, of Outram, and Constable Phillips, of Mosgiel, were also advised and went to the house. Communication was also made with the central police station, and DetectiveSergeant Hall and Detective Taylor were dispatched to the scene. After receiving medical attention, Richardson was removed to Dunedin Hospital by ambulance. Richardson is a labourer and at present is on sustenance. IJo has a family of six or seven children, four of them living at home. Mr Lobb was unaware of the tragedy until ho returned by train to Otokia and was met at the station. He was accompanied by another daughter of Mrs Richardson’s, who, had just been discharged from hospital and was on her way home. An inquest into the death of Mrs Richardson will be opened at Dunedin to-morrow morning.

INQUEST OPENED. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, July 19. An inquest .was opened tins morning concerning the death of Mrs Jessie Richardson, the victim of the Otokia tragedy, and, after identification, the hearing was adjourned sine die. It was reported this morning that though Mr Richardson’s wound was severe it is expected that lie will recover.