TRAGEDY AT AUCKLAND

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 16

TRAGEDY AT AUCKLAND

SUICIDE AND ATI w MURDER.

' AUCKLAND, August 15. . A domestic tragedy occurred at Russell street, Arch Hill, last night. John Davis, aged thirty-five years, followed his wife to the residence of Mia Alice Porter, where a single young man named Richard Chapman was staying. The husband entered the house, found his wife and Chapman together, drew a revolver and fired at his wife. The shot missed her, and the man then fired at Chapman, the bullet grazing his stomach. He next turned the weapon on himself, shooting himself in the forehead, and dying instantaneously Constable MoGilp had observed a man prowling around suspiciously, and followed him. Hearing shots in the house, the constable rushed in. Davis turned a revolver at him, but did not fire, immediately afterwards blowing out his own brains. THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held at 2 o’clock before Mr T. Gresham, Coroner. Dr Sharman stated that when he arrived at the house at about a quarterpast eight on Monday night, he found deceased lying on the floor of the back room, dead, and bleeding from a wound in the forehead about one and a half inches square. Death had taken place a few minutes before his arrival.

Richard Chapman, painter, of ArchHill, declared that he could not identify Davis, as he had never known hun. Sergeant Williams: “Why, he lived with him for some time l”

The Coroner ordered witness to stand aside, observing, “I shall know how to deal with him by-and-bye.” Constable MoGilp said that last night at about eight o’clock, several persons complained to him that a man, who turned out to be deceased, was prowling about at the back of some houses, as if searching for somebody boarding with Mrs Alice Porter. He called on Mrs Porter, and she told him the man was John Davis, and that he was looking for his wife, who was in her house. Witness and Mr Murphy, a cabinetmaker, went to search for Davis, to ask him why he was prowling about. They had not gone far before they heard a shot. Meeting Chapman, he asked what he had been filing at. Witness then saw Davis on the verandah with Mrs Porter. Davis pointed a revolver at witness, and then*, turned the revolver •to his forehead, and fired. He dropped dead at once. Chapman was very reticent right through. He made the remark, “ It’s a good thing he’s gone, anyway'' (meaning Davis). Mrs Porter told witness Mrs Davis was going to leave that night. She also stated that on a former occasion deceased had taken Mrs Davis from a room where she and Chapman were together. Four or five weeks ago witness asked Chapman about Davis going to the house and taking hie wife away, but Chapman refused to say anything. , Annie Davis deposed that her husband was a steel expert. He came from Sheffield abont four years ago. He failed in business in Auckland about five months ago, and they agreed to separate. He then went to Dunedin, and she took rooms at Mrs Porter’s; About three weeks ago her husband returned, and early one morning came with a revolver to where she was living, and told her to come with him. lie took her to the Central Hotel, and a few days afterwards they went to live with Mrs Scott in Queen street. While there her husband tried to cut her throat with a razor, but Mrs Scott prevented him. She then left him, and took rooms in Cook street-. On Monday evening she went to Mrs Porter’s. Chapman and jher husband were strangers, and there was no cause for jealousy. Her husband had been carrying a revolver for some time, and had threatened her life on many occasions. Richard Chapman said he did not know deceased. Davis had no reason to be jealous of him. The jury returned a verdict that- deceased committed suicide whilst temporarily insane.