THE TRAGEDY AT NARRABRI

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 223, 18 September 1894, Page 2

THE TRAGEDY AT NARRABRI

% FURTHER PARTICULARS. ¥ .■****■-'- N____BRi, September 8. ;._. The inquest held on the bodies of the victims of the recenb tragedy disclosed the fact that William'Maher, who committed suicide after having snob his wife and a. selector named John Green, arrived at Green's selection on the day of the tragedy, having shaved bis whiskers off. He got off his horse near the bouse and fixed his rifle together, having carried it in pieces. He spoke to Green, who,; nob knowing him, said, " You have the advantage of me." Maher said, "You have.not got the advantage of me ; my name is Maher; and lam going to shoob you." Maher- bwo children were standing behind Green, _nd he told them to get out of the way. Green ran into the house, and, going into his room, pulled, tbe door, to after him. Maher followed bim, and, opening tho door, Green, who had got his rifle, pointed it ab Maher; bub, on pulling the trigger it snapped, Green having the day before fired at some birds. Maher then said, " Now, you have had your tarn, I am going to have mine," and fifed, shooting Green through, the eye. Green fell dead instantly. Maher then came bub of the room and said, "There's one gone," ab the same time putting another cartridge in tbe gun. Mrs Maher clutched the rifle, and Maher's son, age 15, caught his father's arm. They got him down and kept him on the ground for over an hour, bub could nob get the gun from him. He then pretended to behave quietly, and handed them some cartridges. He asked them for some tea, saying he did not feel Very woll. After somo time the three went ont together and Maher shot aba hawk, but missed it. He put in another cartridge and standing close to hia wife, shot her in the ear, killing her instantly. He then pub in another cartridge, when his son said, "I suppose that's for me. Whab have I done ?" Maher said, "No, tbab's nob for you," and handed his son bis whtch, telling"him to keep id in remembrance of him. He bhen took off his coab and vest, boots and socks, and placing bis toe on the trigger, shot into his mouth, dying wibhoub a struggle. The'children; gave the alarm at Burren Station, about a mile and a-half away.

Maher. has lefb a family of ten; one daughter is teamed. Mrs Maher some months ago brought Maher before the Police Courb at Narrabri for assault. ■■; She had threatened to leave him several times, when he said he would shoob her if'she did. The jurymen and others raised a subscription for the orphans. The Mahers were old residents of Narrabri.