Fearful Tragedy at Palmerston North.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXII, Issue 3867, 30 April 1906, Page 2

Fearful Tragedy at Palmerston North.

A WOAIAN KILLED,

Another terrible domestic tragedy took plnco at Palmerston North on Saturday, a woman mimed Martha Knowles being shot dead by her husband, William Knowles, a former nsident of Palmerston North.

The tragedy took place in Church Street just about one o’clock. We glean (lie following particulars from the Siandard : —■

Tim parties in the affair have of late frequently been before the .Magistrate's Court. Airs Knowles suing her husband for arrears nf a mainlou'iiico older. Only on Tuesday :dterm on last such a case was heard. Airs Knowles succeeding iu her claim. It. is said by an acquaintance of Knowles, a Mr Halford of Peiiding, that, this had preyed on his mind and that he had been noticed to be in a brooding and depressed statu.

Knowles ciaie in from Peiiding by the morning train in company with some friends, Mr Halford being among the number. Knowles and a sou of Halford went to the Municipal Hail to view Holman Hunt’s picture, “ Thn Lfghtof the AVorld.” After looking at it fora few minutes young Halford turned round and found that Knowles had disappeared. Tho police state that Knowles warn to see his wife in Churchstreet, and that the couple were sn.m to come out of the bouse, rimy were hoard talking angrily together, and after going a short distance parted company, the woman walking alone. Knowles was observed to follow her down the path, mid soon afterwards struck her and threw her on to the road, just by the kerbing. He was then seen to deliberately pull a revolver from his pocket, place the muzzle against the woman’s clothing, and tire a shot ibrough the breast. A shot through the head then followed. Almost immediately after tho man turned his weapon against himself, but the cartridge evidently jammed and the shot missed fire. In attempting to extract the firmly-Sxed cartridge he bent part of the mechanism and was unable to close ' the revolver again.

Apparently the only actual eye witness of the tragedy was deceased’s -on, a little fellow named Everard R. Hadfleld, nine years of age. From him it was gathered that his mother had been married twice. Knowles had been away from home working but came home on catuiday from Fmiding according to the little fellow.

As soon as Knowles came home he showed the photograph of a woman to his wife and asked her if she wanted it, she said she didn’t, whereupon he tore it. up and afterwards threw the pieces in the garden. His mother, who was dressed to go out and do soma work, then went out on lo the verandah.

Knowles followed her and they remained talking for some minutes. They did not appear to be quarrelling ’.hough his father seemed cross. Mrs Knowles then moved away on to the path and Knowles followed her. Still, according to the little’s boy’s story, his mother had not proceeded half a dozen paces before Knowles got hold of her and said :—“ I will shoot you.” He bent Airs Knowles across his knee and shot her twice. Airs Knowles screamed and then .aid down on the pith, partly in the water-chann: 1, w T here the stains of fresh b'ood mark the actud spot of the ghastly tragedy. A lutlo boy named W. Skinner also heard the shots, and it was ho who first gave the alarm to his mother, and she promptly acquainted Mr A. Rickards and asked him to go for the police. A young man named Goble came along the road, ani he also was seat for the police on a cycle.

In the meantime a considerable crowd had gathered around the house where Mrs Knowles lived and mto which Knowles hid gone after the occurrence. Messrs Mawbiaey, Kickiid', and Hanley were standing near the door, knowing that Knowles was inside, and while they were waiting for the police Knowles came out to them. He said, “ Here you are; if this had gone off (pointing to the revolver) I would not have troubled you.” lie was immediately secured and the revolver taken from him. Investigation showed that the look of the gun was broken and it was, consequently, put out of gear. Two chambers had been discharged, the remaning four were still loaded. When Knowles saw his wife still lying on the path he bent down and kissed her, remarking at the same time to those who kept him in close custody that “she was a good wife to me; I hope she is going to a better place than I am.” Ho was quite cool and collected and told those who had bold of him that they need not get excited ; he was not going to run away. The short range at which the shots were tired is shown by the fact that the woman’s clothing was singed and blackened. Knowles was. a member of the Six'h New Z -aland Contingent, serving under the name of W. A. K. Freeman