A SYDNEY TRAGEDY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4548, 25 May 1889, Page 4

A SYDNEY TRAGEDY.

A BAD MOTHKR-I>*-LAW. On tho sth inst. a young man named Ralph Manahan killed his wife and son, and then shot himself, dying soon after. The couple lived with the wife's mother, and had been on bad terms for some- timo. In a letter left by Manahan ho cursed his mothorin-law, whom he blamed for his unhappiness, and stated that while ha was absent m Sew Zjaland his wife and mother-in-law made him by their conduct tho talk of Townsville, -.v'liere they wore then living. At the inquest tho "mother-in-law deposed that her sou-iu-htvr had contributed sometimes to her daughter's support, say £t a month. He deserted her for four months, and weut to New Zealand. On the other hand, Mr Macguire, managing director oE the Oceanic Publishing Company, m whose employ deceased was for six years, desonbed him as a steady hard working fellow, and stated that ho did not neglect his wife, when ha went to New Zealand to canvass for the publication, as he left with her an order to draw £2 weekly. This sum was paid each week to Mr? Meoihau, and her receipt was obtained. An additional advance of £19 was also paid, and deducted from the commission comi- 'to d.-ceasetl on an order forwarded from New Zealand by tho hu.band. Before leaving, Manahan obtained an advance of £30, £15 of which w.is handed over to his wife, and thebalaucawint to provide passage money, &o , for deceased. It is alleged that he always spoko of his wife m the most affectionate torir*, but referred to his mother-in-law as the curse of his married life.