THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1820, 11 January 1913, Page 7

THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY.

GIRL'S INFATUATION. COLWELL'S STATEMENT. Auckland, January 9. In reference to the sensational incident which occurred in Smeeton'B Buildings where a young woman named Kathleen Sommerville shot at al well-known Auckland dentist, a statement has been madn by Colwell. USED TO BE FRIENDS.

It appears that some 1 iine ago Colwell and the young woi.-.an were on friendly terms. It is st sted that she became madly infatuated with him, and that for some considerable time past she had been making overtures to him, which he had rejected. She was continually ringing up at his rooms, and asking him to make an appointment with her. This morning the climax was reached. Colwell occupies a suite of rooms in Smeeton's Buildings in Queen Street, where he carries on his business as dentist. About 10 a.m. Miss Sommerville appeared on the premises, and then went away. She returned about an hour later, and wished to make an appointment with Colwell the latter's nurse met heron the landing, and noticed that she was carrying a small brown paper parcel under her arm. However, little notice was taken of the visitor, who went into Colwell's office, where he was seated. A STORMY INTERVIEW.

Colwell states she locked the door, and then made a proposal to him, which he declined to listen to. She then became very angry, and threatened to kill him if he did not accede to her requests. Colwell at first told her not to be foolish, but to go away quietly, or else he would be compelled to call the police and have her removed. Then the visitor did a most sensational action. She produced the parcel, unwrapped it, and took out a revolver and some cartridges. "You still say no, then this will end it." she said, and presented the revolver at Colwell, who was sitting only some two or three feet from her. She threatened to shoot him, and then herself if he did not agree to her proposals. DIDN'T THINK IT WAS LOADED. Colwell afterwards stated to a Herald representative that he had not the slightest idea then that thte weapon was loaded. As she still threatened him, Colwell decided to end the matter once and for all by calling in the police, and got up from his chair to go to the next room and telephone for a detective. The room is not a very large one, and the woman stood in the middle of the floor, a few feet from the door. When Colwell reached the door he found it was locked, and as he was unlocking it she fired. The bullet missed him, Colwell states, by about one-sixteenth of an inch, just grazing his right temple, and passing clean through the next door, where it dropped on a lounge, and then rolled on to the floor. Fortunately, no one was in the dressing-room at the time, though Colwell's nurse is in the habit of lying on the lounge for a little time about that hour each r,m~ : AFTER THE SHOT.

On hearing the shot the nurse and Mr Tucker, Mr Colwell's assistant, rushed to the door, which was still 1 locked, and attempted to enter. Mr Tucker secured an axe, and tried to break in the door. Miss Sommerville is alleged to have shouted, "Come on, Tucker, and I'll kill you too!" By the time the door was opened the woman had escaped by another door leading to the main passage, and she ran upstairs, with the smoking weapon in her hand. The police were immediately notified, and Detective Hollis and Constable Smith were quickly on the scene. They found the young woman on the top landing in an excited state. She asked, • "Is it me you are looking for?" but didn't want to go with them. Search was made, and the revolver was found wrapped in brown paper in a box on the top of a cistern at the back of a landing. Miss Sommerville was taken to the police station, and charged with attempted murder. GOOD LOOKING WOMAN.

I Miss Sommerville is a rather good looking woman, about tweny-eight years of age. She is a mechanical dentist by profession, and it is understood was thinking of going into business for herself. She was about four years ago employed by Mr Colwell, and subsequenly served an appreniceship of about three years with Mr Taylor, of Newtown. She resided with her mother on the 'Great North Road. Mr Colwell is a young man, single, and resides with liis parents in Fonsonby. AT THE COURT. During the afternoon Kathleen Sommerville appeared before Mr E. C. Cuttle, S. M., charged with having attempted to murder W. J. Colwell. Chief Detective McMalion applied for a remand, and asked that the bail should be substantial, as the queston was whether she would repeat the act. Mr Hackett, solicitor, said that on behalf of Mr Colwell he had had occasion to write to Miss Sommerville, warning her that she would have to be bound over to keep the peace if she did not desist in her conduct towards Mr Colwell. The Magistrate remanded the acciised till next morning, and suggested that she should be detained for the night in the Salvation Army or some other home. It was ultimately agreed, on the suggestion of Chief Detective McMalion, that she should not be removed to the gaol, but should spend the night at the police station,