WIFE SHOT DEAD

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1930, Page 9

WIFE SHOT DEAD

i HUSBAND’S PITIFUL STORY. ■ ‘ UNABLE. TO. SHOOT HIMSELF. ? ? Sydney,. December 11. To the- depression may be sheeted home many of the tragedies that have occurred in Australia during the past f six mouths, and one of the most poig-.’v nant of these was reported . recently from Perth. Lancelot Weirmduth, 32, a ' fireman, astonished the police at headquarters by walking in with a s ion 'that he had shot and killed hi* .. wife in the scriib close to the city, and; i that he had spent the night—a> long, < weary night—alongside her body. It was. ascertained by the.police that:, the couple had entered into a death pact,.and that after he had "killed his wife the man’s nerve failed him and he was unable to turn the gun on himself. The tragedy took place six months after the .< couple had arrived at Perth from Victoria. They possessed a little money when, they reached the eity, but this did: j not maintain them for long. Then lowed the dreary searbh by the huaband for work. He was unsuccessful. ’ The pair carried on as long as they, could, looking on the bright side and hoping, for better times. Then the 'ap-: proaching confinement of the wife made them realise that they would be. unable g to meet their obligations. On Sunday Mr. and Mrs.. Weirmduth ; left their lodgings '..with- only • sa.—all 1 they .had in the world. Two days Uterj, tfieir ■ landlady received a letter from theg woman, saying that they had-reached’* mutual understanding, , and that they intended to “take the-long, long journey : together.” After the man had confessed the body of the wife was found by detectives in the spot where he had indicated. A When being searched before he w**. placed in the lock-up .Weirmouth ,«aidf,< “Don’t worry about me—-I am just waiting for the hangman.” He told the I police that while they were in the bush j late at night his wife said -to him: I “Make a clean job of it.” He fired ’ twice, and then collapsed,, and he diitj not regain consciousness until the morn- q ing. He arrived at the police station I coatless, having put his coat around hi*J wife early in the. evening to keep h«J warm. Those who had lived with ’ couple" said that they were always mucM attached to one another, had bright dis® positions,: and were very popular. > In Mrs. Weirmouth’s letter to the landlady it was stated that the latter cou®d keep the property left behind, including: the baby’s clothes, which had been mad® by her in readiness for her confinenfenw. It is understood that WeirmoutA made a statement to defectives’that thefy intended to carry put the death pact sa: Monday morning and posted the from a suburb. .His wife .then reminded - him that the letter would not be delivered till" late that afternoon, and thaij; therefore there was no need to hurry. , They, could ’ spend together another day,' in each other’s company. Towardnight-' fall they, walked along the beach rpid> into the bush; His wife, was experiepe-'i ing pain, and they decided that the spot was suitable for "executing the death pact. ’ Mrs. Weirmouth is believed to 'hi&Tfik been an, instructress in domestic nomy at a large Victorian school before/;' her marriage. Weirmouth is ■ reported/, have served as’ a stoker in . the navjrS throughout.the war*, but it is stated just before his marriage he was an ea<: gine driver : ia the .Northern The'marriage took.place in Victoria, It:, or 11 months ago. ■ « Weirmouth, has been committed for trial. ’ ■'' ' ~ 7 ’ - '