THE PIRENOA TRAGEDY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10037, 1 May 1894, Page 2

THE PIRENOA TRAGEDY.

(Peb United Pbess Association.)

Wellington, April 30.

At the inquest on Herbert Edmonds ia vtrdict of temporary insanity was returned. The evidence of Mr and Mrs Wood, with whom the deceased and his wife lived at Pirenoa, showed that Edmonds blew out his brains on Friday morning before 7 o'clock. He seemed very jealous, and had been.:heard apparently upbraiding his wife. Mrs Edmonds said that her husband was of a peculiar temperament, and on one occasion before their marriage had taken out a revolver and threatened to shoot her if she didn't marry him. In fear she promised to marry him, but did not mean it seriously. Hs arranged the date of the marriage without consulting her, postponed it on two successive days, and finally, though she felt she did not care for him, he persuaded her to go to church. There she refused to marry him, but upon seeing him later ho went on so that she agreed to see a minister, and without knowing how it happened was married next day, none of her people being present. She had lived with her husband since except for a fortnight) when she went to Wellington on account of her fathsr's illness. They had lived happily, but deceased seemed very jealous and at the same time fond of her. On Thursday evening he acted strangely and restlessly, and took down a gun which he said he had oiled for more purposes than one. He had frightened her with this gun before. About 3 a.m. Bhe woke up and tound him standing by the bedside, with the gun loaded, and looking strange. He said, " Let us both die ; prepare yourself for death." She got the gun away from him, and took the cartridges out. In the morning he seemed quite rational, and after getting up he kissed her and the rings on her finger, then he left the room, and shortly after she heaid the fatal shot.