DREADFUL SUICIDE OF A MINER. AT GEELONG, VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 11, 16 December 1862, Page 3

DREADFUL SUICIDE OF A MINER. AT GEELONG, VICTORIA.

■ We copy t-he following from the Geelong Advertiser: — A. frightful tragedy took place in Ohilwell on the 7th ult.. which terminated in the death of a man named John Biggs, a miner. An inquest was held the following day and adjourned for the evidence of the assumed wife of the deceased, who had not been many days confined, and who was stabbed in the neck in her attempt to wrest the knife from his suicidal hands. From the evidence elicited at the inquest, the real facts of the case are scarcely arrived at, but from other sources the causes that more immediately led to such a f ; ightfid termination may be better understood. The deceased, who was an intelligent and particularly well-in-formed man, was living about four years ago on Ballar.it He was married and had several children, nnd his wife was a hard-work-ing, cheerful, and industrious woman. Matters prospered well with the man. He had shares in several golden claims, and his position began to be one of comparative independence, when suddenly (about two years since) his wife became insane, and after doing everything for her that humanity suggested, he obtained her admittance to the Yarra Bend Asylum where she still remains. After this partial break up of his home and domestic happiness, Biggs left Ballarat, having first engaged a female to look after his house and family during bis absence. lie then visited most of the diggings here and in New South Wales. About ten months ago, he met with a young woman, of respectable appearance and good connections, and he at once conceived a violent attachment for her. lie introduced himself as a single man, his advances were favorably received, and it was alleged (erroneously it appeared) they were married. He took lodgings for her at the house of a respectable widow in Bond-street, Chilwell, and went away himself, as it was sriven out, to look for some desirable part of the colony in which to commence business. In the meantime the female whom he had left in Chilwell was confined, and certain of the neighbours, feeling curious probably as to the history of the woman, who seemed to have no lack of means, and whose husband only visited her by fits and starts, offered their kind offices on the interesting occasion. Among these was a Mrs. Martin, whose husband, formerly a digger, had been a mate of Higgs at Ballaar.u about four years ago. Shortly after the confinement, Biggs returned to ChilweH. and either by accident or design, Martin came across hi-; path, and after a reluctant recognition by Higgs the old acquaintance was resumed. Martin asked him about his former wife, but the question was shunned and not afterwards lvfened to. Biggs again went away, and shortly after his departure a great change took place i i the woman's demeanor. She was con«tantiy in tears, and the only explanation she offered for it to the widow woman who attended her was that ever since Biggs had seen Martin he appeared to be wretched. In the meantime, Higgs. it seems hail gone to Ballaarat to see his children, and ascer:ain how they had fared in his absence, and found that they had been neglected, and left, in a measure to take care of themselves. What effect the sight of his old home and his almost abandoned children had upon his mind, it is is impossible to say ; but that he was a man not altogether lost to the influence of domestic feelings and associations is evident from a piece of poetry found in hi- pocket after his death. The lines are addressed to •• A Wife," in the following strain : —

Fursfike tliee ! !NVvrr ! Though tin 1 mark

Of (,'uia vi re s tumped upon my Ihmw, Though my whole soul with deepest guilt were dad;, I\-:<r not that I will leave thee now. He K'ft ISallaarat on Friday, bringing down with him one of his children, a littli 1 b>y about five years old. and. accompanied by the child, he proceeded at once to the bouse whore the woman lay confined. He was not m>lkt when he arrived there, and what passed between him and the female, during ilie biief period that elapsed from the time of his arrival to wh,_'n the tir-t alarm of mure er wa-i given, we have yet by the wo. nan's evidence to iearn. There was liquor in the bedroom, for Biggs had not been long in the room b-fore lie came out into the kitchen with some brandy, which he gave to a lodger. At this time, unpeiceived by any one, lie imi-t have* picked up one or two knives, for hv had scarcely re-entered the bedroom before the nur-e hcaid tlio wonrm try out "a knife, a knife," and upon entering the room she saw a child (the deceased son; lying on the bed, and the woman struggling at the becUide with deceased to tet from him a common table knife, vith which lie had attempted to cut the boy's throat. The entry of the nur-e at this moment probably saved the boy's l.fc for at the sight of her, Big_;s, and the woman rushed out into the street. when: t lie .struggle ivc it mi need. The woman made frantic efforts to wrest the knile from the deceased's grasp, but seizing her by the .shoulder, he made a desperate plunge at her back, and it was only by turning suddenly at the moment that the kr.it'e glanced from its intended mark, inflicting a slight wound in the neck. The woman staggered and fell; and then the debased was seen to draw tluknife across disown throat with such violence that he completely severed the gullet and windpipe, and followed it up by stabbing himself in the =iime spot, and even endeavored with his. hands to widen the aperture he had made. Even when assistance came, it was only by a violent efi'oit that the knife was taken from him, and then not until he had made two further attempts to finish his existence. I'pon the woman being sufficiently recovered the enquiry was lesumed, but nothing was dieted that threw any further light upon tin.- motives that could have induced the man to commit such a seiics of murderous a-cts. and the jury, after a long and patient investigation, returned a \erdict "That deceased committed suicide whilst in a stale of temporary insanity."