AUSTRALIAN TRAGEDIES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 97, 24 April 1912, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN TRAGEDIES.

BINGARA BURDER. BALL SENTENCED TO DEATH. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. SYDNEY, 23rd April. William Ball wae to-day convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of hie wife near Bingara, in January last. ACCUSED'S DEFENCE. SHOT HIS WIFE TO EASE HER SUFFERING.

(Received April 24, 9.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Ball's defence was that his wife had been Buffering agony owing to illness. He entered her room and saw her struggling on the floor, and foaming at the mouth,- having taken carbolic. He shot her because he pitied her suffering, and was convinced that ehe was practically dead when ehot. He had always loved his wifo, and they had never quarrelled. Accused added that he must have been mad to bum the body. [Ball is an Englishman, aged 23, and, with his young wife, took a position as v married couple at Pallial, near Bingara. After a few days the wifo became ill with rheumatism, and was unable to work. Mr. Mack, owner of the station, went away for a few days in the middle of January, leaving the couple alone in charge. When Mr. Mack went home he found the house open, but no sign of the married couple. It was learned that a man, described as resembling Ball, had gone away by train. The police subsequently in the remains of a fire found (several human bones. The wire frame of a hat, corset busks, hairpiii6, and many articles of women's apparel were also found in the fire. From information received two detectives proceeded to the steamship Star of Scotland, lying in Darling Harbour, Sydney, and on board found Ball. They arreeled him on a charge of having murdered his wife, on or about 18th Jauuaiy. It appears that Ball left Warialda for Sydney .by train, and directly after reaching Sydney secured a position a« fireman on the Star of Scotland.]