THE BALLARAT TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13872, 5 October 1908, Page 5

THE BALLARAT TRAGEDY.

VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER. By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright. ! Melbouene, October 3. Albert Caiiti/edge, the Ballara* miner, who shot his wife with p revolver .while-, drunk, was to-day found guilty of manslaughter, and was ; sentenced to .; four years' hard labour.. The tragedy was the outcome of a drinking bout on the par of prisoner. ' '■- Cartledge, who is 32 years of age, has been of intemperate habits fo. a number of years, with the result 'that he had : frequent quarrels with his wife, who is described as having been a sober, goodliving woman. On Saturday week he ! attended : a football match, between the Ballarat and. South Baliarat clubs. Prior to proceeding to the ground he, imbibed freely, and on his way home called at several public houses. When he reached his cottage he was. in a maddened condition and very quarrelsome. After a violent altercation with his wife, he .produced a loaded revolver, rushed into the yard and discharged one of the chambers .. in the air. Mrs. Cartledge and her four ■. little children were greatly alarmed, and ran through the house on: to the front verandah. They were followed by the infuriated man,: with the revolver in his .. hand. The loud screams of his wife and children attracted the attention of three neighbours. A second shot was heard, and then the neighbours entered the dwelling. In a bedroom they found Cartledge sitting on a chair, while his'wife . was lying op the bed, bleeding from a wound ,in the . centre of the "forehead. The head and shoulders of the woman. ■<■ , rested on the lap of ' Cartledge, - who was v in his 1 shirt sleeves, which were besmeared ■■'■■'.■■.. with blood, that flowed from the head of his victim. Cartledge was deeply distressed, and anxious to do something . with a view of affording his wife relief. She died shortly afterwards. Cartledge's.. explanation of the tragedy was that dur- ' ' ing an altercation in the bedroom his '; wife endeavoured to wrench the revolverI from his grasp while he was sitting on a" . I chair, and she was on the bed, and that the weapon Went off accidentally, the | bullet lodging in her forehead. .• 4 -