TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN VICTORIA.

Patea Mail, Volume XI, Issue 132, 1 March 1886, Page 2

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN VICTORIA.

A shocking murder was committed at Forbes, a short distance from Lancefiehl, on Jan. 2(3. About two months ago a farmer, named Hacker Brooks, Ho yours ol age, who has been for 15 years a resident in the district, where bo was held in gieal esteem as a quid:, respectable man, married a young woman, 2G years of age. -Some unpleasantness took place at dinner yesterday between him and his wife, and he threatened, to shoot her with a doublebarrelled gun which he took up. Afterwards, however, he apparently got over his burst of passion, and ho was jipusM by Ins wife to have gone for the cows. During his absence a young girl named Annie Evans called at the house with a cart, got some butter, and left for her home, about half a miie away. When about a hundred yards from the house she was overtaken by Mrs Brooks, who threw a bundle into the cart, and walked alongside. They had only proceeded a few yards whim Brooks rushed up am! demanded what his wife was doing. He accused her of deceiving him, and ordered her home to milk the cows ; bul s!ie i Mused to obey him, ami he threw her down, slabbed eer, and cut her throat. He threatened to servo the girl Evans in the same way, but she drove rapidly away, and, on looking behind, she observed Brooks emerge from tiie house with his gun. The police were soon appiised of the occurrence, and on proceeding to Brooks’' farm, they found Mrs Brooks lying in a pool of blood. She was promptly taken to the Kilmoro, Hospital, where she died shortly aftea wards. This evening the police came across the dead body of Brooks in an unfrequented lane. He bad tried to hang himself, but failing in that at tempi, he cut his throat. Brooks is supposed to have committed the act under an intense feeling of despondency induced by financial ombarassmeuts. Yes-' un-day he suggested to his wife that they .should sell out and leave the district quietly, ami when she refused, he tlir atoned to shoot her. In consequence of this threat she was on her way to 10vans’ (dam;, when he overtook her and murdered her.