MURDEROUS OUTRAGE IN KILMORE, VICTORIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XVI, Issue 3851, 19 December 1882, Page 2

MURDEROUS OUTRAGE IN KILMORE, VICTORIA.

KILMOBE, December 4. UIUUT excitement prevailed in tho town this morning when it became known that a murderous attempt had been made on the lives of Mr and Mis aorman Campb.ll, who aro among tho oldest and most respected residents of this district, and who reside on tbeir farm two miles south of Kilmore. Mr Campbell bad in his employ a coloured man as woodcutter, whom ho discharged on Saturday last, aDd with whom he parted on the most friendly terms. Uarly on Sunday morning, jhowever, tha man in question is supposed to have entored Mr Campbell's bedioom by a window, for about ono o'clock hu wa* startled out of his sleep by a man snwiog at bis neck with a Urno curving knife, which, iv the daik, foitunatc y came iv contact with the top of the brciUuona, and thus saved him Irom instant death. The would-be murderer, thinking lie had killed Mr Campbell, was in the act of drawing tha knife across Mis Campbell's • ucck, when fortuuately the blade was caught by Mr Campbell, who warded oil' the blow, but in so doing received a terrible gwsh in tha hand. Tho man then ru-hed out of the room, followed bj Mr Campbell, who was bleeding profusely. The would-bo murderer, however, got outside nnd escaped. At daybreak information was given to the police, and Mouuted constable Purtallo started ia pursuit, followed about S o'clock by Sergeant Ilopkinteon and Constable Smith, who fell iv wifli tho culpiit about a mile south of Wandong, On sighting tho police he dirtcd off, and after being duly cauiinned wai fired upen twice, the. last i-hot cvidontly taking elF.ct, as blood was seen on a log where ho had sub-e----quently les'cd. Iv tho afternoon about 50 horsemen were scouring the country in search of the man, who was at length clevcrl) captured by Constable Purtallo at Donnybrook, nucl lodged in Kilmore gaol. Mr Campbell's wounds are not considorcd dangerous by his medical attendant.