AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4121, 19 September 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Attomptod Wifo-Murder by a Doctor.

Ax extraordinary attempt at murder was made at Eaglehawk, Victoria, recently. Tho sound of a pistol-shot was heard on the premises of Dr. Marr. An inquiry into the cause of the firing elicited the fact that, while under the influence of liquor, he had boen quarrelling with his wife. This resulted in his threatening to shoot her, which ho forthwith attempted by firing at her. Fortunately the shot did not strike Mrs Marr, but lodged in a door. Tho police at once arrested Dr. Marr and took him to the lock-up. On the case being called in court, tho woman, who was stated not to be the wife of accused, did not appear against him.

Mysterious Affair.

A man named Ernest Wood was found near his homo in Campbell-street, Sydney, in a speechless condition, and was at once removed to the hospital. Shortly after admission he somewhat recovered and wrote a statement to the etl'cct that while .standing at the corner of Campbellstreet a man walked up and suddenly kicked him in the stomach. Ho fell to the ground and the assailant then poured some liquid in his mouth nnd over his eyes which had the effect of depriving him of his senses. At the hospital Wood's eyes wcro found to be inflamed, his condition was drowsy, and his body bore marks of violence, Notwithstanding the efforts of tho police, the whole affair seems involved in impenetrable mystery. Tho police believed Wood to bo a mute, but his conversations with tho medical men prove this to be unfounded. Accidentally Killed by a Brother. The "Manning River Times" reports a sad accident which occurred on Dumaresqiio Island on Saturday afternoon, September 1. It appears that two sons of Mr Norton, a rcsidentof theisland, had been to the Dawson cemetery toseethcirniothcr'sgravc, and wero returning home. The elder of the two, John, had a double-barrelled gun with him, and had shot a number of wheat-eaters. When near home they saw some more, and John remarked that he had no more caps, on which the younger said ho had two in his pocket, and gave them to him. John then fired on barrel and killed a bird, and without taking* the gun from his shoulder aimed at another, and pulled the trigger at the moment his younger brother, who was unknown to him in the line of lire, got up and received the charge in tho back of the head. The unfortunate boy was killed instantly. The Late Fire at South Yarra.-Flvo Children Killed. Fuller accounts of the recent fire at South Yarra, Victoria, by which the lives of five children wore lost, state that in less than half an hour from the first alarm, nothing remained but (he brickchimnies and a heap of charred timber. As soon as possible search was made amongst the smoking ruins, when tho charred remains of three of Mr Nash's children were found in their

bed" and a fourth was discovered under the bed ' The domestic servant, Ma.y O'Mara, has mysteriously disappeared. It seems sho tan out of the house in her nightdress. Sho went next door, ami there borrowed a pair of boots, a hat, and a large ulster. She then left and has not since been heard of, alth'ou-- the police have been searching for her. Mrs Nash states that *-'.„; was awakened by a l™d crackling noise, and at once cctting sut of bed, she, lound the house on Are: Then she shw the servant rushing down the passage, and the girl must have been one of the lirst out of the house. It lias been reported that- the tilth child, who was frightfully burnt,, has since succumbed tc -il<, VX.-MU. It :-ll.:- :n..**l Hi :*-*S calamitous lire.