THE INVERCARGILL TRAGEDY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 89, 14 April 1908, Page 3

THE INVERCARGILL TRAGEDY.

RESULT OF THE INQUEST. . BAXTER'S INSANITY. far TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] INVEECARGILL, 13th April. Tbe inquest concerning the deaths of tho victims of tho Oman-street tragedy was concluded thir evening. | Archibald M'Lean, city missionary, said ho had daily opportunity of obj serving Baxter's relations with his family, and would say (hey were a wry happy family. Baxter was not hasty tempered, and witness had novei- heard angry words. Baxter had been ill for about a month. ,Dr Ewiirt described the wound, and added that " insane people arc liable to impulses which may sometimes bo of .such force as' to he irresistible. There may or may not lie. signs of intellectual aberration. The chief feature of (he tiisoidcr ib an impul&e to destroy, and it may not be controlled by (be person.' 1 Geo. M'Garler, employed in Baxter's shop and nursery, said that on tbe Monday preceding the tragedy Baxter was pale- and very quint, and seemed in % low and weak state. He had seemed depressed for about a fortnight. At 8 p.m. on Tuesday (the right of tho tragedy) ho wont to Baxter's housa for instructions, and 'saw Airs. Baxter, who took his message to Baxter, and brought back replies. She 6aid Baxter's head was bad. Margaret M'Robie, who had nursed Mrs. Baxter through a recent illness, said that Baxter was kind to his family, but for a fortnight', before witness left tho houso ho had been complaining of pains in tho head. Witness thought him far from sape. Ho would bo in bed all day. Sometimes he would go out for part of tlio day, and then come home and go to bed. During the fortnight he seemed miserable, and ate little. One night ho took a bottle of laudanum from witness's room, and when asked (o return it. said the bottle was broken. Tho jury found that James Reid Baxter committed suicide while i suffering from impulsive insanity, and that tho other victims met (heir death at his hands while ho was so suffering. The police were specially commendod for tiiAir. axviinu dualiua^ .With JJIP, pniovjinnciLw