Murder by a Religio-Maniac.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVII, Issue 5204, 10 February 1892, Page 3

Murder by a Religio-Maniac.

(by telegraph.) Auckland, February 9, Later news in reference to the Tauranga tragedy is to the effect that the rernainins; child (the youngest boy) is dead, and that Mrs Munro is rapidly sinking. Munro, who has been in the polipe cell all day has been howling and screaming and singing hymns, and although lie is conscious of what he has done he seems to have no idea of the enormity of the crime. Since morning he has neither eaten nor drunk anything. This afternoon a composing draught was administered to him. He has been liable to homicidal mania for some years past. Since he was a boy he lias been subject to epileptic fits, and some two or three years ago developed religious mania, which culminated in such dangerous symptoms that he was sent to the Auckland lunatic asylum. After being there some few months his wife yielded, against her better judgment, to the earnest solicitations of relations, and he was released from the asylum. Of late months he has again developed very dangerous symptoms, and has threatened the lives of his family several times. The day before the fatal deed was done he said he had a sacrifice to make. Drßullen repeatedly warned liis relatives of the danger of his being at large, especially to liis family, but unfortunately no notice was taken of the warnings. In his lucid intervals Munro was an affectionate husband, fond of his children, and a most temperate man. The victims are : Grace Emma Munro, the wife, 30 years ; George, six ; John Hugh, five ; Alexander, three years ; and Lilian, aged nine months. The father's age is 33. He was born in "Victoria, but has been a resident of Tauranga since the year 1864. Two of the eldest boys lingered till about 11 o'clock, when they both died nearly at the same time. The baby lived till a little past one o'clock, and then expired. None of them recovered consciousness. Mrs Munro lies in an unconscious state, breathing heavily, but no hopes whatever are held out for her recovery, and it seems to be only a matter of how long she and the other child will live. After committing the dreadful deed the father wandered down about the beach, round to the sulphur works, and along to the Strand, where he was arrested. On being spoken to he admitted he had killed them all, and said, "Glory, hallelujah," and, when asked how he did it, said, "With a flat iron, and that God told him to do it,"