A SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10398, 28 June 1895, Page 2

A SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

A; FATHER• MURD]Kr's; HIS' THREE

CHILDREN.

DRINK AND pOMESTIC INFELICITY,

.Press Association—By TeleKraph— .CJopfright.' 1 ;'--';x:;. ;i. ■•"'• ': ■■■■'. Sydney, Jane.27.%. A shocking tragedy occurred at Redfern .this morning. A man named Thomas Brown, a greengrocer, met'tbe! Rev. Mr'Doud, arid told'hiin he had cut the'-throats of bis three; children—Thomas (six years), Charlotte1 (five' years),'.abd Joseph (three years)—early in the day, and hadleft them in the house ready for burial. As' Brpwhwas apparently.sufferisg from:.drinfe,"Mr:Dpud did not believe him, but the man showed a blood-stained-razor, with which he had done th 6 deed, and said he intended to surrender himself to the police after he" had seen his wife. Doud then informed the police, who visited the • boiiSe and found1.; the poor children' lying- in: bed • dead with their heads bound'up- in- white cloths and terrible gashes in; their throats. Meanwhile". Brown had; gone to'the police station j and' asked'them "to go to'the house, but he was supposed to be drank, and no attention was paid to him. When he was eventually arrested he produced a razor, and said he had murdered ,the children to save them suffering. . . . /: .V .. . -

Mrs Brown left her husband a few weeks ago owing to his ill-treatment and neglect, and went to live with another man. Brown discovered her whereabouts, haunted the houße, and threatened vengeance. When there this morning he.demanded to see his wife, and hinted tbat he had committed a deed to make' her regret* the abandonment of the children. It is believed he also intended to murder her. v .-.••■• . . :. :

Since, his wife left him Brown has been drinking heavily. ... : - : . ■■■-.•■;. ;'