SHOTS FIRED IN HOTEL

Southland Times, Issue 24499, 29 July 1941, Page 4

SHOTS FIRED IN HOTEL

MARRIED MAN FOUND DEAD WIFE IN SERIOUS CONDITION (P.A.) AUCKLAND. July 28. A shooting' tragedy involving the death of a man and the wounding of his wife occurred shortly after 5 p.m. in the Cecil private hotel at the corner of Hobson and Cook streets. The deceased was Valentine Kenneth Walter Rolfe, carpenter, aged about 36, address unknown. The injured woman. Mrs Kathleen Josephine Rolfe, whose age is about 35, had been living apart from her husband for a considerable time. She was employed in a clothing factory and rented a room in the neighbourhood of the Cecil private hotel, where she spent most of her time as her mother and other relations live there. It was stated that Rolfe called at the private hotel about 4 p.m. and inquired for his wife. On being told she was out he went away. When Mrs Rolfe returned from her work about 5 p.m. be appeared again and was admitted. The couple went into the sitting room, the door of which was shut. A little later the other occupants of the building heard two shots followed by screams, and on entering found Rolfe lying dead with a bullet wound in the head and a revolver beside hm. Mrs Rolfe had been shot through the left shoulder. The police were summoned and Mrs Rolfe was removed to the Auckland hospital. Her condition is fairly serious.