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Star (Christchurch), Issue 467, 15 November 1869, Page 3

QFrom the New York Times.) Those who have p issed up the street leading from the ferry landing in Tompkinsville, Staten Island, may remember a large, threestorey, brown stone-front house, the first storey of which is a shoe store, standing at the head of that street, and fronting the landing. "This store belongs to Mr Cornelius. Harrington, and in the building that gentleman resides with his family. For the past ten months he has had in his employ a journeyman shoemaker, named Garrett Roache, aged 48 years, a widower, who lived with the family. Roache was, as a rule, very industrious, and was esteemed an excellent workman. He had, however, au unfortunate habit of getting on a spree, on which occasions he would be under the influence of liquor for a week or more at a time, and would frequently have attacks of delirium iremens resulting from his intoxication. Mr Harrington several times threatened to discharge him for this reason, but as the unfortunate man promised to quit his irregular habits he still retained him in his employ. About ten days ago it was noticed that Roache was again drinking to excess — but as he was quiet in his demeanour, the discovery excited no undue comment. On Monday he was at work all day, and appeared to have quit drinking. In the evening, however, he drank excessively, and went to his room in a state of decided inebriety. About six o'clock next morning he knocked at the door of Mr Harrington's sleeping room — an unusual proceeding on his part — and on that gentleman asking what he wanted, replied— " I thought I would let you know that I did not sleep well last night." Mr Harrington remarked to him that he looked pale and sickly, but that he would probably get better during the day, and went down to open his store, Roache going up again to the room wherein' he worked, on the third floor. It appears that he there took from his bench a very keen-edged shoemaker's knife, and coming down stairs again entered the room adjoining Mr Harrington's, which was the sleeping apartment of that gentleman's two daughters, one of whom (Emma) was aged 13, and her sister about 6 years. Emma was clothing herself when he came in, and appears to have been at that moment engaged in lacing one of her shoes. Without a •moment's parley, Roache seized her, -threw her upon the bed, and drew the knife across her throat, severing the carotid artery, windpipe, and all at one stroke, inflicting a ghastly wound, extending from ear to ear. Emma

gave one slight scream and immediately expired. Her little sister, who was put in a teriible fright, crept under the bed when the madman first entered, and had managed to escape thence down staira in a moment afterwards, where she told her father that Roache was murdering Emma. Mr Harrington immediately rushed up to the room, and was driven almost insane by the appalling sight which met his view — his dead child lying on the bed, covered with blood yet flowing from the horrible wound in her throat. The neighbours were immediately -alarmed, and a search was instituted for the murderer. It seems that, immediately after ennctiug this terrible tragedy, Roache went to his own room, where, standing before a look-ing-glass, he drew his knife across his own throat, inflicting a wound from which he died in a few minutes; for when a gentleman who was passing by when the alarm was given entered the house and went up stairs in search of him, the man was found lying on the floor, just in the act of expiring. A spattering of blood on the looking glass, and the appearance of a pool on the flocr immediately underneath, 'showed that the suicidal act was committed with deliberation and determination while the wretched man was looking in the mirror. The scene in the house caused by this double tragedy beggars description, and the wild lamentations of the parents of the victim of the murderer-suicide were heartrending. The murdered girl was a beautiful and exceediugly bright child, and was greatly petted by all the neighbours. The horrible event has cast a gloom over the whole village, which has never before kuown such a direful occurrence. Dr James Harcourfc, the coroner, empanelled a jury yesterday morning, who, after hearing Mr Harrington's testimoney, returned a verdict as to the death of each of the parties in accordance^ with the facts above narrated. Roaches body was immediately removed to a vault in the town to await disposition by his friends. He is said to have been, when sober, a quiet unobtrusive man, and to have always manifested a special regard for Mr Harrington's children.