Husband Shot Under Peculiar Circumstances

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 48, 26 February 1943, Page 4

Husband Shot Under Peculiar Circumstances

NAPIER, Feb. 24. Unusual circumstances were disclosed at the inquest at Wairoa on a Maori station liand, Hiram Smith, his wife, Mrs. Margaret Smith, stating lie was shot, subsequent to a decision on her part to commit suicide, while trying to tube a gun from her. Dr. L. A. Riddell, hospital superintendent, said Smith was admitted to hospital suffering from serious gunshot wounds and shock and failed to rally after an operation. In his opinion, the shot could not have been fired by Smith. Mrs. Smith stated that her husband had decided to leave her, accusing her of infidelity. She admitted misconduct. While her husband was absent sho decided 1o take her own life. She placed a cartridge in the gun and was sitting on the ground when her husband returned. He grasped the gun by the barrel, trying to take it. from her, and in the resultant struggle it. exploded, her husband falling to the ground. She threw the gun from her and went for assistance. Questioned, Mrs. Smith said that sho did not shoot herself after her husband had been shot as there was only one cartridge in the gun and she did not know where the others were kept. She stated that she would not have taken her own life if she had found the cartridges, as she thought differently of it when she saw her husband fall.