THE DUNEDIN TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2418, 5 February 1909, Page 5

THE DUNEDIN TRAGEDY.

T!! K INQUEST. (Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Jan. 4. An inquest on the body of Samuel Lewis Brooks, who shot himself at Maori Hill on Monday night, was opened yesterday. Elizabeth Margaret Cameron, mother in-haw of the ■deceased, said her daughter had been married to deceased for about seven years. They lived together for about two years, but during the remaining fivo years Hived separately. Deceased, who was a fireman on the Millie no, missed his passage, at Wellington about January 19, and returned to Dunedin. 'Mrs. Brook- was at that time in Auckland, and last Saturday she came down to Dunedin. After tea on Monday night angry words passed between deceased and his wife. Mrs. Brooks was asking deceased for a ring of hers. Deceased, using an oath, re-fused to give it. Mrs. 'Brooks insisted on having it, and witness wont out to try to make peace between them. Deceased said to his wife, “I will divorce you,” and then stated ho had been to sec a solicitor that day. Her daughter replied that he. could divorce her, as she never intended to Live with him again. He then threatened to strike her, and she retaliated with a sneering remark, upon which lie struck her., and pushed her against the vsculler.y bench. Deceased then struck her several times on the head, and she made efforts to protect her face. Witness went into- the kitchen, and asked her husband to separate them. ”11 o refused, saying ho would not interfere between man and wife. Witness then went back to tlie scullery, and three revolver shots were fired. After the fourth shot was fired deceased fell. Dr. Hastings said that death- was duo to a bullet wound. Witness did not think the fractures present in tho head could have -all 'been caused by a bullet, but a fail! woud acccount for them. , . . ~ Evideuco was also given by David Cameron, husband of Mrs. Cameron. Notwithstanding that this witness was in the kitchen during the whole' progress of the quarrel, and while the shooting was going on, ho made no effort to interfere or assist, hut sat eailinOy on the sofa. His reasons or not doing so were that lie was frightened that anybody would ho hurt, "and it was only when the whole business had subsided that ho ventured in the scullery. In the course of ta evidence, he-said that he had heaid three revolver shots fired an quick usecession. He. remained where ho was .as ho was frightened, and “had more Sense than to- run onto the. mouth of that ” Witness wont out auto the scullery when tho shooting was over and the noise subsided. He heard shots and screaming and struggling, hut throughout he remained where Norwood stated Mrs. Brooks was in a private hospital. A bullet had penetrated her cheek, and had come out just under the eye. No one was allowed to see (her, and she would not ho 'available for the inquest for four days. The inquiry was adjourned 1 until Monday. '