ASHBURTON TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1601, 14 November 1905, Page 2

ASHBURTON TRAGEDY.

MURDER AND SUICIDE. J *,,»i ft f l (Per. Press JAfewcaatEoa.) ■ •> Ashburton, yesterday. A tragic event occurred in Ashburton on Bunday night at about eight o’clock. Mrs Lee, a resident of AlentoD, a suburb of AshbustoD, whilst on her way home from churob, was shot with a revolver by Jas. Espy, a next-door neighbor. Bhe died almost immediately. Espy then went in* side and shot himself dead. She tragedy occurred near Mrs Lee’s own gate- Mrs Lee was a widow and Espy unmarried, both being about 45. Espy, who was not altogether sound ia his mind, desired Mrs .Lee to marry him, but she declined. Be* cently they had a Court case over money, Espy being the loser in that case.

• ' r - ' Ashburton, last night. Further details of the tragedy show tha 1 ! for some time past there had been a feud between the parties as. the result of a civil action in Court in Maroh last, when Mrs Lee gained the case. Since then Espey threatened to do Mrs Lee harm on seveial occasions. The parties»had been ou good terms UDtil a year ago, when Mrs Lee’s husband died. Shortly after his demise Espey became persistent in his attentions, and proposed marriage, but met with refusal. This appareotly rankled iu the man’s mind, and the previous friendship turned to bitter hatred, which finally culminated in the tragedy. Mrs Lee. accompanied by a young girl who was living with her, was returning from ohuroh. When nearing her home, which is near Eapey’s plane, he came out from behind a hedge and caught Mrs L6Q by the throat and demanded, “What have you been Baying of me lately ? ” Nothing,” replied the woman. Espey then shot her several times with a small revolver, and he entered his boaso and committed suioide by shooting himself through the heart. At the inquest the verdict was as follows :—“ That Catherine Nellie Lee was murdered by being shot by James Espey on November 12th', 1905; that Jambs Espey, committed suioide by shooting himßelf with a revolver.”