THE ADELAIDE TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9146, 30 August 1888, Page 5

THE ADELAIDE TRAGEDY

A FATHER KILLS THREE OF HIS CHILDREN. SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER. Adelaide, August 17. A most appalling tragedy was perpetrated early this morning, when Mr. Charles Lawrance, brother of Mr. Vinrace Lawrance, well-known as one of the partners in the firm of Lawrance and Lawrance and Brook, ■hare dealers, shot three of his little children with a revolver, and then shot himself through the heart. The scene of the murder is a villa residence situated on South-terrace, and is at the eastern end. The family, it appears, had risen at their usual time, the children were all dressed, and the two eldest were despatched to college. Mr. Lawrance did not feel well, so Mrs. Lawrance left him with three children in the house and proceeded to the office of Mr. Vinrace Lawrance, and told him that her husband would not be able to attend his duties to-day. This must have been at about ten o'clock. Mrs. Lawrance then proceeded to return home, and on arrival at the house she was surprised to find that all the doors were locked. She went to one of the windows which had been left unlocked, and entered the house through it. She proceeded up the passage, and as she passed her own bedroom she glanced in. Her eyes fell on the bodies of her two youngest children, lying side by side. With a terrible scream she rushed to them, and the sight of blood on their bodies caused her to at once realise that a terrible deed had been done. It would seem that Lawrance had either premeditated the deed, or a sudden fit of insanity had seized him. The children, Wilfred and Nellie, and their sister Millicent, were playing about the house. Suddenly the little ones became alarmed by their father seizing Wilfred, aged 5 years, and Nellie, aged 3 years. He appears to have pulled them down the passage into one of the rooms and shot them one after the other. In each case he seems to have had them at a standstill, and then, taking his revolver, he placed the muzzle of it at the breast of the little boy and then the little girl, and fired a shot at each, killing them both instantly. Picking up the bodies, he carried them to his own bedroom and placed them at the foot of the cot side by side. Examination exhibited the fact that the pinafore and dress of the little girl wore scorched on the breast, and the bullet, hole was faintly distinguishable. That the muzzle of the weapon was placed close to the child's breast was apparent, her face being blotched with powder. The little boy's face bore no traces of scorching with powder, but the breast of his dress was burned and blackened, showing that in his case also the revolver had been pressed to his breast, and then fired. The bedroom was in the same condition as when the occupants had left it earlier in the morning —the bed being still unmade. The elder girl, Millicent, who was eight years of age, became terrified when she heard her little sister and brother screaming, and she seems to have made an effort to escape. Her father had barred all means of escape from the house, and the child could only rush from room to room screaming. At last, however, her father must have secured her, though, judging from the fact that two shots were fired at this child, Lawrance must have fired one at her as she was running along, for there was a mark on her mouth, where one bullet had entered, whilst the front of her dress gave indications that the muzzle of the weapon had been pressed to it and fired. There is nothing to show that the murderer paused long before he committed suicide, for the indications go to prove that he picked the body of Millicent up and carried it to a bedroom on the eastern side of the house and placed it on the floor ; then he placed the weapon to his own breast, and, discharging it, killed himself. In his case death must have been instantaneous. There seems to be but little doubt that madness, engendered by insomnia, was the cause of the terrible deed.

Medical men were at once procured, but the four victims were dead. The weapon with which the murders were committed is a British bulldog revolver, six chambered, one of the chambers being still loaded when the weapon was found. The inquest was. commenced by the City Coroner this afternoon.

William John Brook, accountant and general agent, the first witness called, said he had known deceased, Chas. Lawrance, for the last ten years. Had always found him a most steady, upright man. He was once in the Audit Department, which he left to go into the employ of. Messrs. Lawrance and Brook. During the time he was in their employ witness always found him steady and attentive to his duties. Had not noticed any particular change in deceased's spirits or manner lately. Saw him the previous morning, between ten and eleven o'clock, and noticed nothing unusual. Was not. in a position to say he had been in a desponding state of mind lately. Never knew a man more attached to his wife and children. Never heard him say the affairs of life were heavy upon him, and if he had witness would not have believed him, because he knew the contrary. Deceased's affairs were in a good position. Never knew a more sober or steady man, and his moral conduct was unimpeachable. Edward Malpas, shipping agent, said he had known deceased, Charles Lawrance, about fourteen years. During that time he always thought him of the brightest disposition until within the last three months. About the beginning of last May he seemed to be in a very depressed state. Thought the depression quite imaginary and uncalled for. He was happy in his family relations. Mrs. Lawrance told witness that her first idea on seeing her dead children was that they had been poisoned. She told witness she had been disturbed by deceased nearly every night for the last three months. He was pacing up and down, unable to sleep. Deceased himself told [ witness that he had no monetary troubles. Vinrace Lawrance, accountant, deposed that deceased, Charles Lawrance, was his brother. Had noticed that he had been rather despondent for the last three months. Saw him the previous night after leaving his office. Noticed no alteration in deceased, who appeared to be in very good spirits. He volunteered to come to the office next morning earlier than usual if desired. He doted on his wife and children, and was of the most exemplary conduct. Knew deceased was in no pecuniary difficulty. Dr. W. J. Astles described the position and wounds on the bodies of the children and their father. He said that Dr. O'Connell, who was with him, lifted the body of Mr. Lawrance, and at the time there was just a slight quiver, like a settling of the muscles. Under the body was a pool of blood and the revolver produced. The wound in the body of Charles Lawrance was just in the direction of a self-inflicted wound by a right-handed man, and was sufficient to account for death.

The jury returned the following: verdict: —■' That deceased Millicent, Wilfred, and Nelly Lawrance met their deaths from bullets fired from a revolver by their father, Charles Lawrance, and said Charles Lawrance met his death with his own hand while suffering from temporary insanity."