SUICIDE AND ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1417, 18 January 1879, Page 19

SUICIDE AND ATTEMPTED MURDER.

(feom oub own cobeespondknt.) St. Bathans, January 9 th. A dreadful suicide and attempted murder • occurred on the Bth instant, between Ophir and Blacks No. 1, while Mrs Waldreon was riding on hortebackin company with a friend, who was driving a reaping-machine. The road at this particular spot is one of the loneliest places in Iho district, with great towering rocks all ground. Suddenly a man, supposed to have teen her husband, rose from bis evident .Ambush and presented a shot-gun at her. At ■this time she was a little behind her friend, •and called out " Don't shoot me, Waldreon,"

and immediately bant her head down behind the horse's neck in order to save her face and chest. He immediately fired, and the contents of the gun lodged principally in her right arm, lacerating the arm to a frightful extent. The horse she was riding bolted iv consequence of a portion of the shot lodging in its shoulder. The horse drawing the machine atao bolted. When her friend heard the report, he looked round and saw her fall. He also saw Waldraon carefully and rapidly reloading tbe gun. He immediately liftrd the injured woman up, and carried her to aMr Love'rf residence. She was very weak at this time, and bleeding copiously. A search-party went out ot» the following morning in order to arrest Waldrenn, and they found iii 3 dead body lying behind the rock. From all appearances he had shot himself. Mrs Waldreon is now Jying at the Commercial Hotel, St. Bathans, under the care of the local surgeon, who believes it will be possible to save her arm. Her husband had been absent, for the last two years, and had not having contributed anything towards the support of his family during that time. Great sympathy ia expressed for poor Mrs Waldreon. Shehas resided in this district for the last 14 years, aiad is noted for her industry.