WEST HOBART TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11060, 11 May 1899, Page 5

WEST HOBART TRAGEDY.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.— Hob.uit, May 10. Mrs. Bilijnghubst has succumbed to injuries received when attacked by her husband.

A terrible tragedy occurred on April 26, at Lansdownc Crescent, West Hobart. A quarrcyman named Charles Billinghurst, father of nine children, savagely attacked his wife with a tomahawk, and then committed suicide by cutting his throat. The police, to whom a son of the suicido had conveyed the news, found Billinghurst lying face downwards on the floor of his cottage, quite dead, with his throat terribly cut. A razor was found lying under his face. Mary Billinghurst, his wife, was near by, in a sitting posture, with terrible gashes on her head and face, and smothered in blood. Eight or more heavy blows had evidently been dealt hoi, fracturing her skull in four different places. She was removed to the hospital. The pair had lived unhappily, and at times resided apart. A fow days before they quarrelled, and Billinghurst went away. On returning bickering words ensued, and the dreadful deed was done. Harry Billinghurst, their son, aged 16, narrowly escaped his father's fury. The rest of the children, ranging in age down to 16 months, Were in bod at the time, and one, aged 12, smashed a bedroom window and helped his brothers and sisters to escape through it into the bush near the cottage.