A SYDNEY TRAGEDY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2136, 28 May 1889, Page 2

A SYDNEY TRAGEDY.

A BAD MOTHER-IN LA. W. Oa the Cth inst b yonng man named Ralph Manahan killed hla wife and son, and then ahoc himself, dying Boon after. The ooople livdd with the wife's mother, and hud been on bad terms for aume time la a letter loft by Manahan be ouried his mother -In -law, whom he blamed for hit aahapplneaa, and atated that while he was abaeut la New Zjaland hU wlfa aad motber.ln-Uw made him by their conduct tie talk of TownarlUe, where they were ihoa living. At tha inqaeit the mother-la-law depoaed that her son-in-law had oontrlbmei sometimes to her daaghter'a aapport, say £1 a month. He deserted her for four monthi, aad went to New Zealand. On the other hand Mr Maogalre, managing director of tbeOoeanioPabllabIng Company, In whoae employ deceased was for alx yeara, deaorlbed him aa a steady hard-working fellow, and atated that he did not negleot hta wife whan he went to New Zealand to oanvaaa for the pnblloatlon, as be left with her an order to draw £2 weekly. This anm was paid each week to Mrs Manahan, and her receipt was obtained. An additional advance of £19 was also paid, and dedaoted from the com mUalon oomlng to deceased on an osder forwtrded from New ZaaUnd by the haaband. Before leaving, Manahan obtained an advanoe of £30, £15 of whiob was handed over to hla #lfe, and the balanoe went to provide passage money, etc., for deoeaaed, It la alleged that be •lirajrs spoke of his wife Id the rooet •ffeotlonate terms, but referred to hie mother-in-law as the onrse of his married life.