A Terrible Tragedy
A WHOLE FAMILY MURDERED. Melbourne, December 9. A terrible tragedy is reported from Ballarat. Mr Johnston, a well-known stock aud station agent, first murdered his four children who were lying asleep in a bed, by suffocating them, and tbe deed was carried out so quietly that a servant girl who was sleeping in the same room as the children was not aroused. Johnston then proceeded to his wife's room and shot her through the head, finally taken poison himself. Both he and his wife only lived for a few minutes. Johnston's was in financial difficulties and the tragedy is believed to have been committed duriug a fit of temporary insanity. November 10, The parents are still alive. Two of the eldest children show signs of a struggle. They were apparently killed by strangulation before tbe house hold retired to rest. The wife's arm was torn arid lacerated, which would in dicate that her murderer first at tempted strangulation. It is now stated tbat Johnston was iv fihaucial difficulties for souxq timo.
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Bibliographic details
Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 75, 11 December 1890, Page 2
Word Count
174A Terrible Tragedy Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 75, 11 December 1890, Page 2
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