THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AT INVERCARGILL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4139, 26 June 1874, Page 3

THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AT INVERCARGILL.

The transmission of early proof slips from the Southland News to the Dunedin papers, enables us to quote more full particulars of the recent outrage in Invercargill than were forwarded by telegraph. The News says ; The particulars of the case, as collected on the spot, are as follow :—A man named John Brennan, alias Roche, had been hoarding latterly at the hotel (lie had previously been engaged there for some weeks as cook). On Monday, the Bth current, he left, stating that he was about to ship on board the City of Dublin, a vessel lying at the Bluff, hut returned on Friday last, having, as he said, altered his mind. He remained as a boarder at the place until yesterday, expressing during the day an intention to go woodcutting instead of to sea. At the hotel the girl, Mary Hall, aged about fifteen years, .was engaged as a domestic servant. Between her and Brennan a slight acquaintance existed, hut not of a nature to attract the attention of those about the place. Nothing occurred during the day to give the least indication of what was about to happen —Brennan’s manner differed in nowise from what it was usually. About 2 p.m. he went into the kitchen, where the girl was engaged at some household work, and, by his own admission, took down a tussocldng adze that was standing against the wall, and struck her two violent blows on the hack of the head with it —one of them to a certainty being with the edge of the deadly weapon. It is probable, from the position in which she was found, that her hack was turned towards him at the time. Brennan then left the Idtchen and made for the front of the house, where he was mot by the landlord, Mr. McCarthy, to whom he said, “ I’ve done it.” “ Done what ?” was the question that followed. “Why, I’ve murdered her !” Mr. McCarthy at once went to the kitchen, followed by Brennan, unable to believe at first that anything serious had happened. On seeing the apparently lifeless body of the girl, ho turned to Brennan, exclaiming, “ What did you do this forßrennan replied coolly, “ I could not help it. I am only sorry it happened here.” The police were then immediately called in, and Brennan was arrested. It was at first supposed that the poor girl was dead, but she revived shortly afterwards, and was attended to by Dr. McClure until her removal to the hospital, whore her wounds—one frightful gash at the back of the head, and a smaller one above the right ear—received surgical treatment at tho hands of Drs. McClure and Grigor. Her father and mother were sent for, and together watched by the side of the sufferer, who could not he said to have at any time recovered consciousness, although more than once she was able to ask for a drink of milk or water. Some additional fight is thrown on the surroundings of the crime by tho statement of Mrs. M. Connell, housekeeper to Mr. McCarthy, who remembers that, just previously, while at dinner in the kitchen, Brennan said something to tho girl which she (Mrs, Connell) did not -hoar, and to which Mary Hall replied, “ Mind your own business.” Thereupon Brennan said, “I’d think no more of cutting your throat than a young sucking pig’s.” Mrs. Connell told him “ he ought to bo ashamed of himself to use such language to a young girl like that,” sent her uj>stairs out of Brennan’s way, and told him “ to go about his business.” The girl came down again after he had left, and Mrs. Connell sent her to the kitchen to wash up some dishes. Brennan, who was then in the bar, went into tho kitchen shortly after, and was followed almost immediately by Mrs Connell, who, on opening the dining-room door, met him and heard him say, “I’ve done it—l’ve killed her.” He then lifted the adze to Mrs. Connell and said, “I’d treat you the same, or any woman that would come near me.” Mrs. Connell then ran for assistance, and was mot by Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Tomlinson, who having been standing near, ran in when the alarm was made. -

He (Tomlinson) was the first to raise the girl from the floor, whereupon Brennan put his arms round her and kissed her. Tomlinson requested him to let her alone, when Brennan said he would serve him the same, and reached for the adze, which was lying near, but Tomlinson put his foot upon it, kept it down, and he desisted, as further assistance arrived. Brennan was one of the crew of the ship Scimitar, which arrived at Port Chalmers in March last, and Ms victim, with her parents, were passengers by the same vessel. He is a man of about 45 years of age, short and stout built, with heavy brows and grizzled hair, a native of London, and said to be of morose disposition. The girl, who looks younger than she really is, bore an excellent character for good conduct and industry.