A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY

West Coast Times, Issue 10429, 7 December 1896, Page 4

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY

News was received iD Nelson of a shocking tragedy that had taken place at Pangatotara, near Motueka, on Saturday evening, November 28. A man named John Grooby, who for the past two ye-irs h is been an inmate of the Nelson Asylum, v. as released on probation a fortnight ago. 11 i tha request of his wife aud sons, who undertook the resnonsioillty of watching him. For three months prior to his re1< asp he had been placed on probation, and his behaviour during this time wassucli as t<> lead to the belief that he had overcome h.s insanity, which took the form ot religious mania. He was allowed by tbe Superintendent ofi the Asylum to look after his children, for whom he evinced a great fondness. On being rel&ased about I a fortnight ago, as stated, Grooby returned to Pangatotara. and up till Saturday last ' his behaviour, as observed by his family and the neighbours, gave no ground for suspicion that he was not in a fit state of mind to be at large. About half -past five en Saturday evening, however, he took an axe, used for cutting firewood, and commenced a murderous assault on his wife — an assault which shows that he was a madman of the most dangerous class. It appears, from what has since been gathered, that Mrs Grooby was engaged in the bakeh )use, and was in the act of drawing some bread from the oven w hen attacked by her bus band. It appears that she held up the tin to ward of the blows, but this availed h^r nothing, for one blow of the axe cut right through the tin. The unfortunate woman was apparently then forced to the ground, a id as she lay there helpless the maniac knelt down, and with ihe axe, completed his murderous deed. The whole of the front and sides of the head were cut and beaten into a fearful and unrecognisable mass. After finishing the deed, Grooby washed his hands and face, laid the axe beside the body. He afterwards told one of his sons that he committed the act with a tomahawk, and he subsequently said that the devil did it.

Grooby's sister, who lives close by, heard the poor woman's screams, and on i-U3hing to the bake house she saw Grooby kneeling down, and chopping at his wife's head. ■ She spoke to him, but received no reply. She put her mother in a place of safety and sent for Grooby's sou and scn-in-law who oa coming up found the m idman walking backwards and forwards by the body as already stated.

This unfortunate affait is largely re-.-ponsible for additional trouble. Mrs Joseph Graves, (Grooby's sister) who was formerly committed to the Lunatic Asylum, but was released some two or three years ago, has again exhibited strong symtoms of insanity. It was rumoured that she left her home on Monday night, and was wandering about the whole night. .*n information would have been laid with the object of her direct committal to the Asylum, but an examination by two doctors is needed and one of the medical ■nen was temporarily absent. Under these circumstances the unfortuuate woman was taken to Nelson to be examined.