THE BUSH TRAGEDY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 3 February 1909, Page 7

THE BUSH TRAGEDY.

HARRY THOMAS'S FEARFUL DEED.

Further particulars of tho tragedy at Waiowaka, near Pcngaroa, when Harry Thomas, a settler, shot dead his .sou William, aged 18, and then killed himself, show that Mrs Thomas was in the bedroom at tho time, and <n hearing tho report of a gun, rushed out, meeting Thomas at the door. He pointed the gun at her, but she got hold of it, and after a short struggle, during which' Thomas exclaimed "I will kill jou," she got away, ran outside, and made for the bush. Thomas followed his wife and fired a shot at her, but without effect. Ho then directed attention to his daughter, aged fourteen years, but she managed to escape, and ran to the house of a settler named Roadley, about a mile along the road. Thomas, seeing that he could not overtake her, went back to his house, loaded the gun again, and put the barrel in his mouth, and fired, blowing his right cheek away. Thomas left Pahiatua on Friday accompanied by his wife and' daughter, and on tlieir way out they met their only son William, on the Huia Road. Ho" was riding out and they were driving. They went home together, and on arrival there the son proceeded to Hght a fire in the kitchen stove. Mrs Thomas and her daughter, being wet, lain having fallen heavily on the journey, went into the bedroom to change their clothes. Thomas unharnessed the horse from the gig. About five minutes afterwards he entered the house and the first thing that attracted Mrs Thomas's attention was the report of the gun, as already stated. She then saw her son William roll over in front of the fireplace. An inoues, twas held; by Mr W. Sounoss, J.P., on Sunday. The jury returned tho following verdict: "That the deceased. William Jphn Thomas, met his death from a gunshot wound inflicted by his father, and that Harry wound inflicted by himself; also that ■.Thomas met his death _by a gunshot Harry Thomas was of unsound mind at at the time from an injury he received some, years ago, aggravated by strong drink." -