THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9939, 10 December 1900, Page 5

THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY.

Full Details ol tlie Grime.

A Cold-blooded Murder.

Miller's Wounds Mot Likely to Prove Fatal.

[per press association.]

Auckland, This day. Particulars of the tragedy in Franklyn road show that Miller on Tuesday had a quarrel with the woman with whom he lived, Sarah Ann Piper. She left the house, taking her three children with her. _he*couple had been together for seven jea—*, having three children. She went to stop at the house of a friend in Pitt 1 street. Miller discovered on Thursday where she was residing and went to the house and asked her to go back. She refused, believing from his previous conduct that her lite was in danger. Miller saw Mr Piper (the woman's father) and asked him to intercede for him, but he refused, and advised hi 3 daughter against _eturning. On Saturday night, at half-past eight, - t Miller went to the house again and asked ISarah Ann Piper to come back, but she refused. He then took the boy with him, saying he would not harm him. Althe boy wished to go the mother was afraid to interfere. The next thing known was the tragedy, Miller having apparently gone straight home and cut the throat of the little boy in his own bedroom and then -attempted to cut his own, after apparently having attempted to hang himself, as he • liad cut down the clothes line in the back T yard and then fastened it to the banisters ■of the staircase. At a quarter-past nine Miller went out ■on to the verandah and called out to Mr _homas Farquahar, his next-door neighbor, l&-t he had cut- the throat of his littleMboy in the bedroom and attempted to take nis own life. Mr Farquahar at once'went to the Freeman's Bay polica station and informed Constable F-nnerty, who came to the house. The bedroom was like a butcher.* shop. > The boy lay on the bed with his thtoat out from ear to ear with a butcher's knife, the deed having apparently been done in his sleep. Miller was also then lying on the bed and the bleeding from his throat had stopped. Dr. M<nr attended to the wounded man's injuries, and after Miller's wounds were dressed Dr. Moir and Constable Finnerty took him to the hospital, where he was handed i over to the hospital staff. Constable Sullivan was left to watch over Miller, who is bfik'g kept under police surveillance at the hospital, and doing as well as could be expected. The wounds are not likely to prove fatal. Miller "is a native of Auckland. He is possessed of a_ ungovernable t'.mper. He was struck on the head by a tree tweoty years ago, and was, sent to the Avondaie Asylum several times. He j had previously attempted to commit suicide. The ioquest was opened yesterday bei fore Mr McArthur, coroner, a*d adjourned after evidence of identification bad been tendered.