TRAGIC LOVE AFFAIR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10179, 13 October 1904, Page 4

TRAGIC LOVE AFFAIR.

♦ A WOMAN WITH A REVOLVER. ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A SUITOR, SYDNEY, October 5. A tragic event took place m Sterling stieet, Redfern, last evening, when, as the result of, a quarrel, a young woman named Bena Donohue, of Middle street, North Sydney, shot her lover, Frank Adams, wounding him seriously, and then committed suicide. It appears tliat Adams went to Redfern from North Sydney, to a house occupied bj T Mrs Home, m William street, for the purpose of spending the evening. He arrived at Mrs Home's residence about a quarter to 6 o'clock. After having tea the company adjourned to. the diningroom, and were indulging m singing and playing the piano. Adams was singing "Asleep m the Deep," a favorite soug of his, when a knock came to the front door. Mrs Home, on opening the door, was confronted by the woman Bena Donohue, who asked if she could see Mr Frank Adams. The latter went out to speak to the woman, and, engaging m conversation, they walked to Sterling street. After a few minutes had elapsed three revolver shots raffg out, followed by cries of "Help ! Help !" Mrs Home nished from the house, and found Adams on his knees. On approaching lum Adams exclaimed, "I am shotT Don't touch me !" The woman Donohue was lying on the footpath unconscious. On the police arriving they found Adhins Mas beijng supported by several people, while blood was issuing freely from two wounds m the side of the neck and over the right eye. Some 20 yards away Bena Donohue was lying on the footpath m an unconscious condition, with a terrible wound m the right temple. A six-chambered revolver, Avith three chambers discharged., Avas picked up. Senior-Sergeant Harrison took Adams to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital m a cab, Avliile Constable conveyed the Avoman to the Sydney Hospital, where she died ten minutes after admission. Her body Avas subsequently taken to the North Morgue. On, arrival at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Adams, who is a watchman, employed at Dalgety and Co.'s, Avas treatei by Dr. Brown, andl admitted m a precarious condition. The bullet penetrated the right side of the neck, and was d.eply embedded. When spoken to about the case Adams, with great difficulty, said that Bena Donohue had shot him. He was unable to make any statment with regard to the affair, as he was m extreme agony, and weak from loss of blood. He is 30 years of age, and of good physique. According to the statement of Miss Ada Home, she was m conversation Avith Adams during the afternoon and evening. He mentioned, to her that he had been keeping company with Bena Donohue, Arho Avas 25 years of age, for about six months. From the manner m Avliich lie spoke he appeared) to be considerably Avorried. Adams met the deceased m a hotel m North Sydney, and) a couple of months after making her acquaintance he became greatly attached to her. Recently, however, some difference cropped up btAveen them. In the deceased woman's purse was found a note giving directions as to hoAV to find the residence of Mr Home m William street Redfern. Apparently it was only after making enquiries of several persons who reside m the vicinity that she found the house. When she saw Adams she seems to lmve persuaded him to go to the corner of William street, where she spoke a few Avords to him. Suddenly she flashed a revolver m his face and fired, and! the bullet entered his neck. Adams fell, and m. doing so struok his head against the kerbstone. Immediately a second shot Avas fired,' but missed its. mark. The woman then turned the weapon to her headi, and fired into her right temple. She uttered a screa'- '' and fell unconscious. '