TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 135, 9 June 1910, Page 5

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

MAN -ATTACKS A WOMAN.

THEN COMMITS SUICIDE.

MELBOURNE, May 31.

A shocking tragedy occurred to-day at the Sir Walter Scott Hotel, at the corner of Elizabeth and Fra.nklin streets, city, a young man, whose name is said to be John Tunlss, cutting the throat of Melaine Dean with a razor, then inflictiing frightful injuries upon himself with the same instrument. He died within an hour, and the woman is in a critical con- ! dition.

The crime was committed in a bedroom on the first floor of the hotel, and the first information the other inmates had of the occurrence was the sight of Mrs. Dean rushing downstairs, blood flowing from a wound in her throat, followed by the man, similarly wounded. He was in a shocking condition, and had barely rep.ched the foot of the stairs when he collapsed. It was evident from the nature of his injuries that he had used the razor with frenzied determination. Mrs. Dean, who was also very weak, staggered towards several of the inmates of the hotel, who were conversing near the door, exclaiming, "Jack done it, Jack done it." The pair were promptly rei moved to Melbourne Hospital, and it was j then seen that the man's end was near. I Mrs. Dean's recovery is regarded as ! doubtful.

A blood-stained razor was found lying at the foot of one of the two beds in the room from which the man and woman came. Both beds were blood-stained, and there was a trail of blood from one bed through the door and down the : stairway. There were signs that a j struggle had taken place. i Mrs. Dean had been employed at the | hotel as a barmaid for some months. ! the landlady, Mrs. Turner, stated that; she had known the pair about two years.! The woman stated in the hospital that | her name was Melanie Dean, and she was j 37 years of age. She was a native of: New Zealand, and a married woman | ; living apart from her husband, who '■ ; resided in Westport (N.Z.). She had! ;been living lately with the deceased at; ! 215, Victoria-street, city. I Mrs. Turner stated the deceased was j I always abusing her. The woman was a' J temperate' woman, and took drink only j (Occasionally. Deceased also did not drink !to excess as a rule, though he had about jfour drinks to-day. She did not know I anything to account for the tragedy.