TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN VICTORIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7792, 24 February 1886, Page 3 (Supplement)

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN VICTORIA.

A shocking murdei was committed at Forbes, a short distance from Laneefield, on Jan. 2G. About two months ago a farmer, named Harker Brooks, 33 years of age, who has been for 15 years a resident in the district, where he was hold in great esteem as a quiet, respectable man, married a youug woman, 26 years of age. Some unpleasantness took place at dinner yesterday between him and his wife, and he threatened to shoot her with a doublebarrelled gun which he took up. Afterwards, however, he apparently got over his burst of passion, and he was supposed by his wife to have gone for the cows. During his absence a young girl named Annie Evans called at the house with a cart, got some butter, and left for her home, about half a mile away. When about a hundred yards from the house she was overtaken by Mrs Brooks, who threw a bundle into the cart, and walked alongside. They had only proceeded a few yards when Brooks rushed up and demanded what his wife was doing. He accused her of deceiving him, and ordered her home to milk the cows; but she refused to obey him, and he threw her down, stabbed her, and cut her throat. He threatened to serve the girl Evans in the same way, hut she drove rapidly away, and, on looking behind, she observed Brooks emerge from the house with his gun. The police were soon apprised of the occurrence, and on proceeding to Brooks' farm, they found Mrs Brooks lying in a pool of blood. She was promptly taken to the Kilmore Hospital, where she died shortly afterwards. This evening the police came across the dead body of Brooks in an unfrequented lane. He had tried to hang himself, but failing in that attempt, he cut his throat. Brcoks is supposed to have committed the act under an intense feeling of despondency, induced by financial embarrassments. Yesterday he suggested to his wife that they should sell out and leave the district quietly, and when she refused, he threatened to shoot her. In consequence of this threat she was on her way to Evans’ place, when he overtook her and murdered her.