THE PALMERSTON TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7940, 13 January 1906, Page 5

THE PALMERSTON TRAGEDY.

I THE INQUEST. "SHOOT ME ETHEL!" PALMERSTON N., Jan 12 At the inquest on the body of James Jarmey, who was accidentally shot with a poa-riflo, Ethel Linton gave evidence that deceased said that he would kiss her. That was said in the ordinary way of chaff, and witness took it as such. Deceased went out without attempting to cairy out his suggestion. Witness thought she said: "I'll shoot you!" hut only in fun. She took up the rifle and pointed it at deceased. When she pulled the trigger she did not know the rifle had gone off, but she thought deceased was joking. When deceased fell she thought he was only joking, as he had been a soldier. Thomas Tuggell, who witnessed the occurrence, deposed that deceased said laughingly, "Shoot me Ethel; I'll die like a man if you can!" ' The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, and added a rider of sympathy with Ethel Linton.