TRAGIC AFFAIR AT NIGHTCAPS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14000, 5 September 1907, Page 7

TRAGIC AFFAIR AT NIGHTCAPS.

SUPPOSED ATTEMPTED MURDER-

AND SUICIDE,

MINER AND YOUNG WOMAN IN A CRITICAL CONDITION.

(From Our Special Reporter.) WYERTON, September 4. The quiotudo whioh ordinarily distinguishes the little coal mining town of Nighfc&ps was rudely broken last night shortly after 11 o'clock, when a miner named Henry Beid, 22 years of ,is believed 1o havo shot Miss Lydia Gibbon, who 19 of the same age as himself, and to •have followed up his crime by an attempt on his own life. *

■Reid' has beon resident in Nightcaps somo sevon or eight months, and enjoyed considerable .popularity. A Tasman'ian by birth, lio was balo and hearty jii his habits, and was well liked. During the wholo of his stay Jiero ho lias lodged with a Mrs Gibbon, and as* is not unnatural, fell in lovo with' that lady's eldest daughter, Lydia. Tho couple appear to havo " walked out" together. They seemed to bo fond of each Dfhci', and tlio wiseacres of the tiny township were doubtless satisfied that, they wero witnessing that course of true lovo which leads to marriage andeverything happy thereafter.

But during the past few weeks a change come o'er the spirit of the scone. Miss Gibbon discovered that, sho loved another, ■ and wry properly, under tho circumstances, told Reid so, Reid took his reverso very badly, and it is stated ho,was hoard to breathe vengcanco against the object of his affections. Tho favoured suitor is a flaxmillor. Jealousy, which is proverbially eruel as tho grave, is said to havo seethed for weeks in the Tasmtmian's breast and to have boiled over list night. After working in the mino up till 8 o'clock, he went home, then dressed, went to receive his pay about 9 o'clock, and returned at 10. One of Miss GihWs younger sisters, about W years of age,, gave'him his supper, and a few minutes later Miss Lydia herself camo in. .Her sistor retired, leaving 'the two alone. • The rest of tho family being in bed, the only sound audiblo in tho house was 'the quiet talking of tho man and girl in the kitchen.

Not long after 11 o'clock Mr- F. Gibbon, carpenter, was startled by hearing 1 ■ two shots fired in quick succession, and another, apparently muffled, a few minutes later. At first it. did not strike him that the sound was actually from a firearm. 110 concluded it was' the banging of a door of an adjoining stable, hut presently he heard groans, and rose to find out the cause. Hearing nothing more, however, ho returned to his room, thinking that' tho groan 9 camo- from somo of .tho younger members of the family who were' suffering from whooping-cough.

It was not until Mr J. Foster, a miner, who slept in an adjoining room awoke inm that he became alarmed. Mr Foster cried out, "Whatever is tho matter," and both men got up without delay. Thoro woro lights burning in both tb© dining room and kitchen, and on opening the door 'leading outside from tho kitchen tlioy stumbled over tho prostrate hotly of Mis? gibbon, lying in a pool of blood. The tivo men carried the girl into tho house of Dr Baird, and tho police ivere at once summoned. Hie young woman's face was blackened with the smoko from tho powder, and a bullot wound was seen just oyer tile right eye. Sho was quite unconscious.

In an adjoining section about a ohain away from tho houso thcro is a well, 25ft deep and, containing from 3ft to 4ft of water.

It is supposed that, after, the shooting Reid threw himself into this, well, from which he was hauled up by Mr Gibbon, who was let down to -him by a rope. It was found that the unhappy man had been shot through the palate, and subsequently, u P on t his removed to tho. Rivorton Hospital, it, was discovered that the bullet 'had lodged in tho base of the brain. Miss Gibbon wai also taken to tlio hospital, and both sufferers are lying there in a oritical condition.

Up to tho present the revolver has not heen found, but it is probably at the bottom of. the well into which'Reid apparently threw himself after tho shooting. A packet of strychnino purchased from an Invercargill chemist was found in ono of Reid's pockets. .

.At a f airly lato hour last night we were informed by the hospital authorities that neither Reid nor tho yoiuig woman whom he shot hid regained consciousness. It appears at the time of writing extremely doubtful whether tho patients' lives can bo saved. The doctors are, however 'hopeful.

(Per United Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, September 4. J.ho latest news from Nightcaps is to the effect that there as a chance of t.Ke reoovery of both Reed and Miss Gibbon. She was able to say "No. thank vou," when asked if she wanted a drink 'of water. It is stated that if she survives she will not lose tho sight of the left eye, under which the bullet entered.