CARTERTON CRIME *. *

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 83, 5 October 1914, Page 3

CARTERTON CRIME *. *

ATTEMPTED MURDER & SUICIDE HUSBAND'S TERRIBLE DEED. (BT TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL TO THE POST.) CARTERTON, This Day. A sensation was created yesterday when it became known that Alexander R&e, a mai'ried man, aged 38 years, with three young children, had committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor after attempting to kill his wife in a similar manner. For several weeks past Rae had behaved in a very erratic mariner, and frequently indulged in drinking bouts. When in that «uite lie had frequently threatened to kill his wife by cutting her throat with a razor. About three weeks ago, Rae was the subject of a prohibition order, since which he had become normal and appeared to settle down — so much so that a brothers <vh(» had been slaying with him over the trouble apparently considered him all right, and_ left for the South on Saturday morning. During Saturday someone must have procured liquor for Rae, and at about 10.30 p.m. his noise attracted passers-by, who called in the police. On their ap-pearanc-e Rae calmed down and assured the police that he would go to bed. After seeing the police off the premises he locked the door and must have immediately made to the room where his razor was, and, catching his wife coming from another loom, he attempted her lifo by cutting her throat. Her sck-ams oa she escaped by the window attracted the renewed attention of the police, who had barely gone four yards. The house was then in darkness, and the police gaining * entrance through' a window lieard Rae call out : "It's all right. I've done it to myself, too." Rae was found sitting in a chair in the kitchen with his left jugular vein cut, and he expired • about an hour later. Surgical aid had been immediately summoned, and Mrs. Rae's injuries dressed, and on Sunday morning she was removed to a private hospital, where there are liop^s for her recovery. When affected by liquor Rae was usually very determined, and when in that state had frequently boasted that he would "do for " his wife with the razor, but she took no notice of it, as she did not think he meant it. On Saturday night Rae Was only slightly affected with liquor and appeared to know what he was doing. It is stated that he had developed misguided imaginations about his "wife's 1 movements, arid" this appeared to make him jealous. He had been married about ten years, and for some years past had carried on a successful machinery and engineering business here. He was a quiet, inoffensive man when sober. Both he and his wife were natives of Scotland, and beyond a brother it is not known whether they have any other relatives in the Dominion. Tho three children, whose ages are 2 years, 3Jf years, and 5 years, were sleeping in the bedroom when Ilae committed the deed. An inquest was to open here to-day, and after formal identification of Rae's i body and the taking of the evidence of the police and surgeons, would probably be adjourned until Mrs. Rae is well enough to attend.