TRAGEDY AT WESTPORT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2111, 16 April 1889, Page 2

TRAGEDY AT WESTPORT.

ATTEMPTED WIFE MURDER

(PER WtBBS ASSOCIATION.)

JWksttobt, April 15. David L%wton, a ooal miner, wotklng at Dannfston, retired to rest on Saturday night with hl« wife. He woke about midnight, rose from his bed, and obtaining • pick struck his sleeping wife three or four beavy blows with it, fracturing bee skull. Lawton then gave himself into the custody of the polloo. Shortly after he wandered In bis mind and to-day waa given sleeping draoghtß and had morphia iojsoted into his arm. la aomeqaenae of want of sleep and. a diseased brain theae opiates overcsme him and he now lies unconscious, The unfortunate woman also lies In a similar state and it 1b doubtfal whether either will recover. Lawton has been twice charged with lunacy here, once a few weeks ago. One dootor certified to insanity ; the other said the man til sane, thus he was set at liberty. Another telegram states that Lawton says something Impelled him to .. kill hit wife and he got up, obtained a pldk htad, and struok her while asleep three or four blows on the head. She gave one screaks only. There are said to be motive* of -jaalousy In the m«nV mind. Ltwton wai given a sleeping draught and morphia yes* terday and the efleot upon him It very i bad ; In fact It Is feared that he may sooonmb. . „ -,