TRAGEDY IN MELBOURNE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 239, 6 October 1894, Page 2

TRAGEDY IN MELBOURNE.

A HUSBAND KILLS HIS VVIFE

A TEKin iiLE tragedy was enacted in a bouse in ijatrobe-streob, West Melbourne, on Saturday afternoon last, when a labourer named Weymouth George Wash is alleged to have cut his wife's throat from ear to ear with a razor, in a fit of passion. The couple had been married many years. Ib is etatfid that during the week Wash has been working pvefrime, anp! when he arrived bpmo pn Saturday lie h'andsd over to hjs wife £2, hjs usual wages. She inquired what he had done with Ins overtime money, and the reply nob being sabisfacbory she begame angry, and, seizingl a slipper, struck her husband across the face. A violent quarrel followed, during which, ib js said, Wash knocked down his wife and kicked her. He bhen left bhe room, but ib is alleged that ho returned immediately with a razor, and, seizing his wife, cub her bhroab from ear to ear. Thpr9 were lodgers in the house, and one of them rushed to the woman's assistance on hearing her scream, bub on finding her lying on the floor with her bhrosb cub, he went for the police. Wa?h was immediabely arresbed, and after being cautioned, he gave an account of the quarrel ; and to quote his ov/n wprds, be said : " I went and got a razor, and cut her throat. Ib waa in bhe heat of the moment that I did it. lam sorry for it nov7^'' Wasfe also stated thab his wife had a razor sharpened lasb week with/the intention of doing him injury. Mrs TVasi) was still alive when the police removed her to the Melbourne Hospital, but she died on arrival there.

There are two sons and daughters in the family, the eldest being aged 19. Wash is 40 years of age, and his wife was several years hia junior. She was a eober, quieb person, but subject to fits. Wash is a native of London, and married his wife at Adtlaide. The married life ot the couple was not very happy, quarrels being frequent, owing to Wash's intemperance and hia wife's bad temper. Durjng the altercation on Saturday, Wash took his pipe and went into the yard, but returned soon after, and went upstairs, followed by his wife, who continued to ask for the balance of his wages. Wash then turned on her ab the top of the stairs, kicked her in the chest, and struck her on the bead. He then went into the bedroom, cautioning his wife not to follow him.

A crippled son of Wash, aged 15, tells the story of what occurred in the bedroom. He says : " When I entered the room, I heard mother any: ' Wim, Wim, atop !' ] then ran in, and saw pother lying on the floor. Father was on bis knees by her side. X sa.w him i jJrJlFfl mpther OB th§ face with bis" fihat fisb. JJe then #tgod HP »nd fcipked her m the side of (the face, I cried pub : 'Father} father! don't hurt mother,- and

called to Mr Pearson, the lodger. Father then rushed and. took np the razor, and said : 'Now I'll finish her.' He next opened the razor, and," arooping, cub mother's bhroitb. Pearson then appeared in the doorway, and father said to him, ' Get back, Pearson, or I'll serve you tho same.' Ithon ran downstairs, because father was coming towarda me with the razor."

Wash appears to have then wrapped a ghQepakin doormat round the wounds on hiß wife, and tried to lifb her on the- bed, bub failing, he calmly walked to the residence of a woman in Spencer-etreeb, and asked her if she were going to see his wife. The woman aaked if she had had a fib, and Wash said: "No, I have cub her throab, and I expsct that she is dead. Now lam going to give myself up to the.police."