THE TOWITTA TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9, 11 January 1902, Page 5

THE TOWITTA TRAGEDY.

A TERRIBLE MURDER

SISTER ACCUSED OF THE CRIME.

DetaiJs are to hand by mail of the Towitta (S.A.) tragedy:—

On January 1 the two girls retired to rest at a fairly early hour, both sleeping in the house and in, the same bed. The boys retired somewhat later and slept in an out-building about one hundred yards or more from the house. At about 10.30 or 11 o'clock Maa-y awoke on account of a heavy weight lying across her. She immediately tried to rise, and when she did so a man caught her by the wrists and a struggle ensued. While struggling she heard something drop, and knew it was a knife on account of the sound. While the man was groping for the knife she escaped and ran to her brother's, putting on a blouse and skirt on the way. The eldest boy was sen\ to the neighbour's, abotit half a mile distant, but he could not come. The district constable was then sent for and he came immediately. A lamp was lighted and Mary went into the room and saw Bertha, aged about fourteen, apparently dead. A black tracker was at once wired for. The deceased girl was found lying face downwards, with her head resting on her arms, and with her throat cut from ear to ear, while there were some terrible gashes in the face and neck. There were a few bruisea about the body, but nothing of any consequence. Two butchers' knives were found in the safe, both belonging to Schippans, and on one there were blood stains. Neither the father nor the mother, who were absent at the time, could throw light on the matter. The house consists of three rooms in a row, and a small room at the end. The girls slept in the centre room, and the unfortunate victim must have struggled into the. room adjoining, which was used as a living room, and Which had a door leading out to the yard, for there were blood stains rig-ht up tc the door, and also a pool in front of the door. A bedstead also in the. room was covered with blood. Marks of her hands and fingers were also plainly visible along the wall from one room to the other. I viewed the body (says a correspondent) and have no desire to again see such a horrible and gruesome sight. At the opening of the inquest the father stated thathe had no suspicion* as to who had caused his daughter's death. Dr. Steel described the wounds sustained by the girl, five attempts having been made to cut her throat. He fqund no signs of any attempted violation nor marks of violence on the body except slight bruises on the outsides of both the xipper thighs and a few scratches on the legs. In his opinion the cuts were made by a right-handed person from behind, and from the marks on the hands it appeared that she had struggled to protect herself. ADELAIDE, Friday. At the inquest on Bertha Schippan, Mary Schippan, who was sleeping with Bertha on the night of the tragedy, was examined. The solicit-1 or appearing for the Schippan family asked that she be cautioned, as she. stood in a suspicious position. Mary repeated the story about the man lying across the bed, and subsequent events. She accounted for the blood* stained, knife found in> ttie cupboarcl by stating it was used for skinning parrots. She admitted that a portion of a blood-stained blouse produced was hers. ADELAIDE, this day. Mary Schippan admitted improper relations with a man with whom she was keeping company at the house on the Sunday before the tragedy. Her parents were absent at the time. Bertha was aware of the occurrence. The medical evidence proved the blood stains on various articles of Mary's clothing, and the jury returned a verdict "That Bertha's throat was cut by Mary."