TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT GRANVILLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 223, 20 September 1893, Page 5

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT GRANVILLE.

A MAN SHOOTS HIS TWO CHILDREN. AND THEN BLOWS OUT HIS BRAINS.

A terrible tragedy was enacteJat Onslowstreob, Granville, New South Wales, on September 15th. About 18 months ago a young married woman named Mrs Godson, with her two childron, came to live in thab street in a somi-datacbed weatherboard cottage, within a few hundred yards of the eouthorn boundary of the Rosehill racecourse, Previous to thon, sho had been living at) Balmain with her husband, Herbert Godson, an engineer's draughtsman by profession ; bub in consequence of his dissolute habits ami cruelty sho was compotled to leave him, and in order to maintain herself and children obtaiued a magistrate's order against) him for tho payment of £1 a week. After the expiration of this order, Godson continued to Bond her money until last week. He does not appeal.- to have visited her very often. Last .June he came up to Granvillo, and. told Mrs Godson that he intended taking one of the children (a little girl) away, butsinco theu he haa not beensoon about until Tuosday night, when he was noticed in Grauville. Mrs Godson retired to bed between 10 and 11 o'clock, and about 1.30 was awakened by hearing someone pass down the passage. Thinking of thsprevaiiing "epidemic "of burglary, eha jumped through the front window and called out "Burglars! Burglars!" Mi Makins, a neighbour, was roused by the cries, and coining outside went in tho direction of Mrs Godson's cottage, but as ho was approaching tho tenement tho door wag opened and Godson appeared. Seeing who it was, Makins returned home, and Mrs Godson ro-entered the house. Her husband made no disturbance, but quietly asked for a rug and pillow, which were given him, and he went to sleep in a back room, Mrs Godson and her children occupying the front room. At) daylight Godson got up and went out, but returned about 7 o'clock. Mrs Godson was chopping wood at the time, preparatory to getting her husband a cup of tea. Godson entered the house with his children oncl began playing with them. The little girl, Mildred Kathleen, aged 3J years was on hi 3 knee singing "Twinkle, twinkle little star," when tho mother last observed them together. In the next instant aha was startled by hearing two Ehots in quick succession proceed from the house, and, springing over the fence in hertright, ran shrioking to Makins'. Mrs Makins immediately ran round to the front, and met the two children covered in blood, and the little boy's shirt on (ire. Extinguishing tho fire, she hastened to the room, and as sho got to the door caught a glimpse of Godson standing erect, with a revolver pointed to his head. Before she could do anything he pulled the trigger, there was a terrible explosion, and he fell So the floor. She rushed to his side and cried, ' Oh ! Why did you do such a foolish thing ?' but ho only smiled, and in the next) instanb fell back in her arms and expired. The childron were at once taken to tho Parramatta District Hospital. Tha little girl was the first one shot, Tho bulleb entered the left side of her head, just over tho ear, and, penetrEting tha brain, tore oub as the top of the head, causing the brain to protrude. She was unconscious whon admitted, and was noft expected to livo through the nighb. The boy Percy, 3ix years of age, ninst have been F-hot at very close, as his clothes caughti fire. The bullet pierced his face ovor tha loft jaw, coming out through the neck without breaking any bono or injuring any vital part. Dr. Bowman has been attending tha little sufferers. Godson nhob himaelf over the left ear, the bullet penetrating the I brain.

Godson had recentl7 been working as a fireman and coal trimmer ab Baimain. He was 27 years of ago, and is a line athletic figure. He had been married about seven years, and the first home of the young couple was at Granville, where tho husband was engaged erecting machinery ab Brunton's flour-mills. On the completion of that job he was engaged by the same firm to go to Melbourne to undertako similar work, and during his absence his wife lived at Baimain. On his return from Melbourne he was engaged at Mort's Dock. He was a native of England, and is said to have been well connected at home.

Last night Dr. Bowman reported thab the little girl had slightly recovered from tho shock. At 9.30 her temperature was lOOdeg., and she was restless. Godson had been drinking about Granvillo, tha night before, and stated that he intended shooting someone through jealousy. Mrs Godson oeomed to suspect something when Godson returned in tha morning, and exclaimed, "Oh, Herb, don'b touch me." He was evidently waiting for tho mother to rush in after ho shot the children, as he was standing ready in the middle of the room when Mrs Makins wonb to iho door. The revolver waa a sixchambered one, and five barrels were discharged. The body is at the hospital morgue. Mrs Godson has been with tha surviving children at the hospital since they were admitted, and she remains with thorn all night.