FURTHER PARTICULARS

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 26, 21 November 1879, Page 2

FURTHER PARTICULARS

(From tho N.Z. Times, of yesterday).

It appears tliafc Clarence Miller wont; to l)r France's residence •at 10 30 for some medicine for his father, who was ill in bed. On\his return, after about half an hour's absence, the medicine was adminis-^ tercel by the servant, Theresa Kooney, after which Air Miller said he woulJ have a sleep, and would n&k+\ require her^aglnii for sonic hours.' The girl then went into the kitchen, where she saw Clarence, and told him that his fa* her was having a sleep, and was not to bo disturbed. Tlie you'.h told her to go about her work, whereupon nhe went up to the lawn for some clothes to iron. She was away only about fifteen minutes, and on her return she saw Clarence Wilier standing at the door, sawing away at his throat with a carvingknife, the blood spurting 1 out and falliu^ over his shirt. The girl at once gave the alarm, but it. whs not till the doctor had arrived, that she knew ihe parents of Clarence were dead. Dr Kesteven arrived first, and was followed shortly afterwards by four other doctors. Upon the alarm being first given, those who visited the house found young Clarence lying »it the back or scullery door, life being quite extinct. A smell of burning attracted them to the bedroom, and there Mr Miller Was found lyingj in bed with his throat cut, and his head very much knocked about. A broken gun was on the floor, and the bedclothes were smouldering as if from the discharge of a gun. In a passage leading to the kitchen, Mrs .Miller was found quite dead, her throat being also cut. The girl Theresa Rooney statea that while away getting the clothes she did no.t.heor any sound as of firing a gun/ and as there are no gunshot * wounds about Mr Miller's body, the presumption is that tho gun only contained a blank charge. Young Miller must have first discharged the gun at his father, then batteied--him about the. head with the gun uutjl it was broken, and finished by cutting his lather's throat. He then appears to have aijacked and killed his jnptlier in the passage, finishing up leaking his own life at the back He had been seen by the servant to load the gun on the previous day, and in answer to her inquiry he said he wos going to shoot a cat. The girl did not notice anything strangeMn his manner when he spoke » to her just bef a-o tho fatal deed was committed.

The horrible, deed is naturally enough attributed to insanity and it is known that a, brother of Clarence Miller's committed suicide some months ago. It is said that while in conversation with a frieni a few days ago, Clarence, speaking of his brother's, death, said there was no one' knew what would bo the end of it. He was gener.lly of a cheerful disposition, but he was occasionally liable to fits of frenzy. •

It is probable that the recent suicide on Lewisville Terrace might, have bo excited his brain as to lead him to the committal of this deed.

Four sous of Mr Miller's are yot living— one at Zululaud, one at Melbourne, olio at Lauucesten, and the fourth (the youngest) at Wellington.