Tragedy at Patea.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1914, Page 5

Tragedy at Patea.

WOMAN SHOT iN SLEEP.

HUSBAND ATTEMPTS SUICIDE.

£Pbb Press Association. 3 Hawera, February 4

News has been received in Hawera of a tragedy, which occurred at Patea at an early hour tliis morning. Tom Hewitt, carpenter, and a recent arrival from the Old Country, shot his wife with a seven-chambered revolver while she was asleep in bed. He afterwards shot himself in the temple and mouth. He was conscious when discovered, and was removed to the Patea Hospital, where he is reported to be sinking fast. No other particulars are available.

further particulars.

CHILDREN’S SAD PREDICAMENT.

JEALOUSY AS THE CAUSE.

The Wanganui representative of the Press Association forwards the following : The tragedy at Patea occurred at half-past four this morning,, when Thomas Hewitt, 30, carpenter, shot his wife, 26, in her sleep and then shot himself. S. Johnson, from whom the Hewitt’s rented rooms, was aroused by shots, and informed the police, who on investigation found the woman dead from a wound in a temple, and the man lying on the door shot through the head. , ' He was just conscious enough to tell the police that he shot his wife and himself, and then he became comatose. He was removed to the hospital, where he soon began to sink. , Two children, aged 9 years and 6 years, were in the room where the shooting occurred, but they were too terrified to move or cry out. (

The eldest, a hoy, told the police he was wakened by a shot, and then saw his father shoot himself twice in head.

Hewitt, who is an ex-American Navy man, has been in the Dominion some little time, and his wifp came from America and joined him about two months ago. They had been in Patea about five weeks,

The tragedy is attributed to the husband’s jealousy, it being stated that there had been trouble between the pair before coming to Patea, since when Hewitt has been moody in his manner. >