TASMANIAN TRAGEDY

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 24

TASMANIAN TRAGEDY

HOBART, August 8,

The inquest on a farmer named Mullins, whose body was found hidden in the bush about July 5 last, is proceeding.

The evidence chiefly centres round the movements of a farmer named Jones, a neighbour of Mullins, and between whom there was alleged to be “ bad blood ” over some land and other transactions. On the day of the tragedy Jones explained that he was out ’pioesum-hiinting at the time of the supposed murder, which would account for the shots that were then heard. August 9. At the inquest on Mullins his son stated that his father and Jones were on very bad terms. His father’s* pigs had hen poisoned, and he also lost several calves. Just before his disappearance he said he intended to watch to see if any more were taken.

The victim was William James Mullins, aged about 50, a fairly well to do farmer. Ho was the father of a family of eev«n — five daughters and two sons. For years past a bad feeling has existed among certain parties in the Mathinna district, into which politics were introduced, and, indeed, so strong were the opinions expressed that some persons considered it advisable to carry firearms to protect themselves. It was suggested to Mullins that owing to certain events he should carry a revolver, but he laughingly replied that if he got into trouble he would depend on ins fists. He was a quiet, unassuming man. In addition to being engaged in mixed farming and road-contracting, lie added to his income by trapping ring-tailed opossums.