SHOOTING OF WOMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11654, 19 October 1923, Page 6

SHOOTING OF WOMEN

FATAL END TO QUARREL. HUSBAND’S STORY. By Telegrnpo.—Press Assn. —Copyright MELBOURNE, October 18. At the inquest into the deaths of Mrs Dougherty and Mrs Lay, who were found shot in a house in South Melbourne, a witness gave evidence that Mrs Lay and Airs Dougherty informed him the day before the tragedy that Dougherty had visited the house and wanted to see his wife. She refused, but he kept knocking so long that eventually 6he saw him, but told him it was no use his coining, and shut the door in his face. Dougherty stated in evidence that he had been living apart from his wife for three months. On the day of the tragedy a discussion arose between him and the two women about the trouble with his wife, in which he told his wife that Mrs Lay was doing her best to keep them apart, and made a reference to Mrs Lay’s character which caused her to say she would get her brother to deal with him. Thereupon he produced a revolver and said he would give the brother the contents of the revolver if he came near his place. Then his wife seized the revolver and fired several shots. Mrs Lay fell, and he was knocked down by her; and when he rose he saw his wife lying shot. He reloaded the revolver with the idea of ending himself.