ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9565, 30 December 1909, Page 4

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.

AN AUCKLAND SENSATION

HUSBAND SHOOTS HIS WIFE,

AND ENDEAVOURS TO TAKE HIS

OWN LIFE

{By Telegravh — Press Association).

AUCKLAND, Wednesday

A sensational shooting affair took place iv a house in First-avenae, Kiugsland, at noou to-day. A builder named George Oliver, aged fifty years, ia a fit of temper, wouuded his wife twice with shots from a revolver and then cut his own throat, the condition of the mau beiug very serious.

It seem, that Oliver returned to his home shortly before 12 o'clock, after a visit to the city. He called his wife into their bedroom, and the pair remained talking there for some time. A daughter was working iv the kitchen, aud a son was busy outside, but neither had auy warning that a tragedy was to occur until the report of a revolver-shot was heard iv the bedroom.

The sou aud daughter then rushed through to the front of the house, aud as they did so the sound of another shot rang through the air. Loud cries of "Help" were also heard, and as they rushed into the room they beheld their pareuts struggling on the bed.

Evidently tho woman had been thrown back on to the bed, and the husband had theu drawn a revolver. Fighting for her life, Mrs Oliver had seized the weapon as the man prepared to fire. The bullet went through her left baud, but retaining her presence of mind to a marvellous degree, she still clung to the revolver. As her husband endeavoured to again direct its muzzle towards her the woman screamed for help, aud despite the secoud shot piercing the palm of her other baud, she still fought to take possession of the weapon. The arrival of the sou and daughter was uoue too soon. The boy, seizing his father's arms from behiud, held him while mother and daughter between thera- wrenched the weapou from his hands.

Leading their mother from the house aud throwing the revolver iuto the uext door neighbour's garden, they sought refuge iv a residence across the street.

Iv the meautime the police were commuuicated with, aud a passing carter, accompanied by another mau, went into Oliver's house. The mau was still in a raging temper, and mauaged to scare them out of the place. He theu locked every door and window, and, using a long-bladed pocket-knife, attempted to take his own life by cutting his throat.

Constable Waiuwright proceeded to break iv the back door, but before he had succeeded iv doiug so Oliver had opened the frontdoor and slipped into the street.

Rushing after him, the constable immediately grappled with the man. He struggled to evade arrest, but loss of blood from the wouud in his throat had made him weak, aud he was speedily placed under restraint. Oliver, it aDpears. is a mau of violent temper. Family troubles have, it is reported, led to frequent disagreements between him -and his wife, aud certaiu business transactions are said to have latterly preyed upou his miud.