THE INVERCARGILL TRAGEDY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6494, 14 April 1908, Page 6

THE INVERCARGILL TRAGEDY

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. THIB DEED OF A MADMAN. PRESS ASSOCIATION. INVER/CARGILL, April 13. The inquest concerning the deaths of the victims of the Orinan street tragedy was concluded this evening.

Archibald McLean, city missionary, said he had had daily opportunities of observing Baxter’s relations with his family. He would say they were a very happy family. Baxter was not ha sty-tom pored, and witness, had never heard angry words. Baxter hdd. been ill for about a month. Dr Ewart described the and added that insane people were liable to impulses which may sometimes be of such force as to be irresistible, and which may or may not be signs of intellectual aberration. The , chief feature of the disorder is an impulse to destroy, and it • may not be' controllable. Georoo M. Carter, employed in Baxter’s shop and nursery, said that on the Monday preceding the tragedy Baxter was pale, and very quiet, and seemed in a low and 1 weak state. He !md seemed depressed for about a fortnight. At 8 n.m. on Tuesday (the night of the tragedy! he went to Baxter’s house for instructions. He sow Mrs Baxter, who took his message to Baxter and brought back replies. She said Baxter’s head was bad.

Margaret Me.Bobie. who had nursed Mrs Baxter through a recent illness, said that Baxter was kind to his family, but for a fortnight before witness left the bouse he had been com-nl-ining of pains in his head. Witness thought him far from sane. He would lie in bed all day sometimes, or go nut for part of the day. and then come home and go to bed. Bering this fortnight he seemed miserable, and ato li+tln. One night ,he took a bottle of laudanum from witness's room, and when asked to return it, said that the turtle was broken. The jury found that, .Tames Rirtd Baxter cfimmittod suicide while suffering from impulsive insanity, and that the other victims met their deaths at his hands while he was so suffering. The police were specially commended for their action in dealing with the emergency.