SYDNEY TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 84, 3 January 1930, Page 9

SYDNEY TRAGEDY

WOMAN’S DREADFUL DEED

BEHEADS CHILD & COMMITS SUICIDE FORMER RESIDENTS IN NEW ZEALAND (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Rec. January 2, 9.15 p.m.) Sydney, January 2. A dreadful tragedy occurred to-day at Stanmore, suburb, when Mrs. May Osborne, aged about 35, beheaded her six-year-old daughter Phyllis with a razor. Mrs. Osborne afterwards committed suicide by cutting her own throat before a mirror. Mrs. Osborne with her husband, who is a plumber, and her daughter came from New Zealand about two years ago and occupied a flat in Cavendish Street, Stanmore. The woman recently had had a nervous breakdown and was greatly worried at the likelihood of her husband becoming unemployed owing to the industrial disturbances here. The husband was not at home at the time of the tragedy, which occurred after breakfast. Mrs. Osborne rushed downstairs screaming, “I’ve killed Phyllis,” and tearing at her own hair. The landlady, Mrs. Matthews, tried to pacify her, and then summoned help. The police discovered the girl’s dead body and also the mother’s in an upstairs bedroom. '

Mrs. Matthews explained that she pursued Mrs. Osborne all round the room trying to wrest the razor from her. Finally she saw her stand before a mirror and hack her own throat. Mrs. Matthews hailed a man who was passing by to come to her aid, but it was too late then. It is understood that Mrs. Osborne’s brother, who arrived by the Ulimaroa yesterday, paid her a visit. The Osbornes are described as having been a lovable family.