THE MANSFIELD MURDER CASE.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 112, 13 May 1899, Page 5

THE MANSFIELD MURDER CASE.

* NO CERTAIN EVIDENCE OF STABBING.

[press association.] (Received May 13, 10 a.m.) Melbourne, This Day. The enquiry into the circumstances attending the murder at Mansfield, 131 miles north of Melbourne, of the old man Butler, Avhose daughter Anatasia is in custody on the charge of having murdereu him, has been resumed. The doctor Avho made the post mortem examination stated that Butler's death might have been caused /by a sharp instrument, but the body Avas so far decayed that all trace of a wound had disappeared. It Avas equally possible that the death might have occurred from natural causes. No traces of poison had been found on the body. [The accounts published in the Victorian papers as to the relations betAveen the Avoman and her father show a- filial spirit on her part that makes against tho dreadful suspicion noAV hanging over her. In stature she is described of medium height and build, and generally she is a woman mentaflv and physically strong. When some years ago tho old man retired from farming, and, under the stress of advancing years, could do no Avork, the girl and her brother (says the Melbourne Herald) undertook the obligation of supporting him. The girl rented a small piece of land, a mile outside the centre of Mansfield toAvn, and built upon it a small harclAvood cottage of throe rooms. In this the father was installed, and there ho lived till he died. While the son remained in the district he visited the old man often, and the daughter made a practice of going to see him twice a Avoek, and sometimes of remaining at the house for n day of tAvo. During her visits to the house tho girl did any cleaning that was necp^sary. and in various ways added to the comfort of her fa'heri "The tAvo Avere apparently much attached to each other, and the denouement which has folloAvcd upon the- tragedy is therefore inexplicable.!