DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

Otago Witness, Volume 06, Issue 2899, 6 October 1909, Page 27

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

**. SYDNEY, September 30. The girl Lundie, who in defence of her mother shot her "father dead, was found guilty of manslaughter, with, a strong recommendation to mercy. Th& judge did not pass sentence, but bound the girl over to good behaviour for three years.

The tragedy occurred at Major's Creek on September 1.. At the inquest th© aecusWl made the following confession: — "I, Maggie Lundie. 13 years of age, live at Major's Creek with my parents. I now wish to state that I shot my father. I voluntarily and fully make this confession without fear or favour. Father, mother, and I were in the kitchen about 7 o'clock on September 1. Father said he would drop a log on mv mother. Mother faid, 'If you do I'll kill you before I'm don© with you.'. He turned round to me and said, ' I'll kill you, too.' He had ' roused' on me, and told me to get tidy. I asked if he meant it. He replied, 'You'll 6ee before the- night i« out.' I said, ' No, you wont, father.' Then I went to a drawer safe, took a cartridge, and put it in. a gun. I put the prun alongside the window whilst I opened it. I then took the gun up, put it on the window sill, and pulled the trigger. 1 then ran in through the gate past mother. I then went to where- father was standing. He wont away. I went after him and said, * Father, I done it.' He said, ' What did you do it for?' I did not answer. He said, ' I wont tell anyone, you did it to save mother. Mother came and helped me to take father to his room. I had a cut face, caused by the gun kicking, and was afraid to tell Constable Marsh. I went, where I hid the gun, took out the cartridge, and put the gun through the window. Alter I told father I did it he said, ' I forpive you, Maggie, and hope God will, too ' I did not wish getting anyone into trouble. I really thought father would, kiL l mother by the look n his eyee. Father was a violent man. I „ did it to save mother." A verdict was returned that deceased died from the effec-ts of a gunshot wound' inflicted by his daughter, Margaret Lundie-, who was oommitted for trial at the first Criminal Court to be held. Deceased was aged 50, and leaves a widow and eight children j