CROW'S NEST TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1898, 5 November 1913, Page 5

CROW'S NEST TRAGEDY.

■WOODRUFF COIhnTTED FOR- • , TRIAL. ... ...

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' Sydney, November 4. In' connection with tHo Crow's ;Nest '(a'suburb of Sydney) caso, - Mackay Woodruff has been committed for, trial on a .ohaTge of attempting to nmrder liia wife and son.

"Woodruff: mado a the police soon after the tragedy. He, said he had been suffering from mental trouble through the issue of anonymous circulars, and had got out of bed. A fit of -madness came over him, and he seized .an axe-dnd attacked his son and 'wife. Then' he came to his senses and tried to commit suicide. He added, •"It was terrible. I wish I were dead."

The Crow's Ne3t. tragedy'., occurred on {September 23 last. . "Woodruff is a wellknown city insurance adjuster. : The son was awakened from sleiep by a 6tunning Wow on. the head, and found his father standing over hia bed with. au axe. In •hia hand. After a desperate struggle, tie son. secured the axe, pushed his father into: an adjoining room," and locked the door. Then, staggering into his mother's Toom, he found her in bed, unconscious, with a large wound on her head.. Making a'last effort, he telephoned for a doctor. On the arrival of tho police Woodruff's room was found to be empty, Woodruff himself was fou,nd lying outside the window in a nude state, with his throat cut, jmd his wrists and legs .terribly gashed. He was raving wildly. All-the victims were removed to-the-hospital'in a serious condition. Woodruff had l spent - the week-end., in tlis mountnins, returning to town on the night of his; crimes.