TRAGEDY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 14

TRAGEDY IN CHRISTCHU RCH.

MUKDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

CHRISTCHURCH, November 13.

About 7.30 this morning a imddle-aged man named Hans Wilson, . residing on the Lincoln ro»cl, in the vicinity of Wilderner» roao, fatally shot his wife» with a revolver, and then attempted to commit euioide.

From ti»c circumstances surrounding the lamentable occurrence, it is gleaned that Wilson, who was not engaged in any employment, but looked after the house while his wife and the elder members of his family went out to work, got up this morning to get his eldest 6on John (who is employed at the Addington Workshops) his breakfast, the Uvtt^r leaving home at 6.60, up to whioh time Nothing unueunl had happened. Mrs WiWn was tnfln in bed, as also were three other 'children, the second s^on (William Ernest, agecj 15) being absent from home. This son states that there was no difference in his father's demeanour last night, save that he Was quieter and inclined to be sarcastic.At 7.30 Harold Burley. aged 17, son of a^ next-door neighbour, was bringing home milk for breaiiaet, and as jjje na^ed the house heard; snots.. Go[njf tonui own place, he looked ova* the fence, a,nd saw Mrs Wilson lying 4t the back dooV. Jje investigated the cauSe, ajid, after sending fee the ambuknoej tfiurjsed the. oonitable

in charge of the Addington Police Station of the occurrence.

The constable was promptly on the scene, and found Mrs Wikon, partly dressed, with a mane oape round her shoulders, lying at the back door in ar dying condition. Wilson had evidently entered the bedroom as the unfortunate woman was dressing and fired three shots from & new 3.80 revolver, one bullet striking her on the righ* arm, another on the left elbow, and the third lodging in her, abdomen. The victim, then staggered out of the room to the back door, where she fell. Dr Marks was summoned, and on arriving a few minutes later found that the woman had

One of the children told the constable that Wilson had locked himself in the parlour. The officer went to the door, but was unable to gain admittance, and so forced an entrance with an axe. He found the apartment in a shocking condition. Several bullet holes were in the wails, and another hole through the window. Wikon had turned the revolver upon himself, the missile penetrating the top of his left lung and emerging at the back, below the shoulder blade. There was a pool of blood close to the sofa, near where the revolver was lying, and a trail to .the window, towards which Wilson had crawled. The man wa« in a comatose condition, and made no answer to questions put to him.

Constable M'Keefrey had Wilson removed to the hospital in the ambulance, and subsequently the body of the woman was conveyed to the morgue. Four empty revolver shells were found on the floor and two in the weapon, the other three chambers being loaded. A number of loaded cartridges was also otycined. The revolver bore several bloodstains, and entwined Tound the barrel was a long fair hair from the victim's head.

Arthur Wilson states that his mother came out of her bedroom after being •hol> and staggered to the back door, leaving trail o f . blood behind her. No one in the house appears to hays heard any quarelling, and apparently the aot was committed in cold blood.

The •$ cocase d woman, who was much refibe/cted and of prepossessing appearance, ha£ relatives a^ Belfast. WUgop, \t will T§"membered, attempted to shoot his wifd (AiujabeUe Wijeon) on April 15, the n)g£.\ of tfie I&htbrtgon closing. He was charged wish toe offence on the following day, and remanded to April 23 for medical examination^ 0$ the latter 6ccaiion b« vw committed, fe Sunnvtjde

Asylum, and was released about thrssl months ago on condition that he abstain*** from drinking, a prohibition order beii^ taken out against him." His habits since then have been sober, and there ia no suggestion that, ho had been drinking 'alely. Members of the family state that if he had been drinking he would have immediately b&en sent back to Sunnyside.

Wilson's condition was mosc critical late this afternoon, and there appeared a very poor chance- of his recovery.

An inquest was opened to-night concerning the death of Mrs Wilson. Medical evidence wae given that the revolver wounds might not have caused death, and the inquest was adjourned till to-morrow fo: a post mortem examination.