DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 29 July 1941, Page 4

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

MAN SHOT DEAD, WIFE WOUNDED REVOLVER SHOTS IN HOTEL Auckland, July 28. A shooting tragedy involving the ,death of a man and the wounding of his wife occurred shortly after 5 p.m. in the Cecil Private Hotel, at the corner of Hobson and Cook streets. The dead Valentine Kenneth Walter Rolfe, carpenter, aged about 36, address unknown. The injured woman is: Mrs Kathleen Josephine Rolfe, whose age is about 35. Mrs Rolfe had been living apart from her husband for a considerable time. She was employed in a clothing factory, and rented a room in the neighbourhood of the Cecil Private Hotel, where she spent most of her time, as her mother and other relatives live there. It was stated that Rolfe called at the private hotel about 4 p.m. and inquired for his wife. On being told she was out he went qway. When Mrs Rolfe returned from her work about 5 p.m. he appeared again, and was admitted. The couple went into a sitting-room, the door of which was shut. A little later the other occupants of the building heard two shots, followed by screams, and on entering found Rolfe lying dead with a bullet wound in his head and a revolver beside him. Mrs Rolfe had been shot through the left shoulder. The police were summoned and Mrs Rolfe was removed to Auckland Hospital. Her condition is fairly scrioifi. I —P.A.