EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF MURDER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1326, 27 August 1886, Page 2

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF MURDER.

Inquiries are being made in Sydney into one of the most singular cases on record. A steuo mason at Newtown, near Sydney, is}, barged with the wilful murder of his wife, under the following circumstances Rhode Caroline Reynolds, wife of Alfred Reynolds, w ,a found in a state of unconsciousness,and when sherecovered slightly, she stated her husband had compelled her to drink opium under athreat to cut her throat. She died early next morning from the efl’.cts of the poison. It appears Reynolds who bears the character of a drunken, cruel husband, had been in the habit cf ill-treating his

wife, who is a respectable woman and good housewife- Reynolds had threatened her life, and a few days ago he compelled her to write a letter confessing she had done a great wrong, deceived her husband, and made a deal of trouble and stating her intention to commit suicide, as she was very miserable and did nob wish to cause further trouble, and would be better dead. She was further obliged to mention th'.t her husband was la no way responsible for her death. This letter, signed by Mrs Reynolds and addressed to her mother, was found by the poiioe, who were directed where to find it by the nnfortunats woman. Mrs Reynolds atut d that her husband mixed soma opium in a cup of water and stood over lur with a carving knife and compelled her to drink the opium nnder the threat that ho would oat her head ff. She drank the poison, Reynolds sat by and watched the effects of the drug until his wife was becoming stupefied. He thtn rushed out, whan, however, by a strong effort she got up, took -her baby in her arms, and dragged herself to her mother’s house a few do rs

away. She soon lapsed tato a state of stupor, but medical assistance was obtained and she was restored to consciousness. It was expected she wou'd recover, but she succumbed to the poison at half-past 4 that moreiog. Reynolds, who returned to the house shortly after the police arrived, was arrested, and as his manner was strange he was sent to the hospital. He is only 26 years old. The wife is two years younger. They had been married seven years and had three children, the youngest a baby eight weeks old. Reynolds at the hospital was discovered to be suffer'.ng fiotn F# effecti of narcotic poison, having attempted suicide, bat is now quite recovered. There is some mystery surrounding the letter, as according to the evidence of the j mother of Mrs Reynolds, the writing was oot that of her daughter