A SYDNEY TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 6113, 15 December 1898, Page 2

A SYDNEY TRAGEDY.

—♦— TWO WOMEN SHOT. THE MURDERER ARRESTED. (Received December 14,11,25 p.m.l Sydney, December 14. News has just been received of a tragedy at Petersham, .one of the .suburbs of Sydney, Jg< It is reported thata.man namefi Biiggs, aged thirty, has shot his fiancee, a woman named Duff, and also her grandmother, Mrs Miller. It is known that the latter is dead, and that Briggs has-been arrested,V but no further details are available, FURTHER PARTICULARS. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OP BRIGGS. (Received December 15,9.55 a.m.) Sydney, December 15. After committing the murders Briggs hurried out and at a lute hour was rescued uninjured in the harbour. at llalmain, where he had attempted to drown himself. When charged he said it had been preying on his mind for some tima that she had been false. A sister of Miss Duff states that the murdered girl had been keeping: company with Briggs for a considerable time, but about a week ago they quarrelled aud her grandmother refused to allow a resumption of courtship. The girl made an appointment to meet Briggs, but failpA to keep it. It is surmised that Briggs went to the bouse for an explanation. Shortly after he was admitted two shots were heard, and Briggs rushed out. The grandmother (Mrs Miller) was shot through the forehead, and the girl Duff in the back of the head.v The murderer evidently fired point blank at the elder lady as soon as ha entered the room. His fiancee then turned to lice. Hiss Duff was a public school teacher, and Briggs an ex-policeman.