TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN ADELAIDE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3652, 29 March 1883, Page 4

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN ADELAIDE.

A most desperate suicide and murderous attack on the lives of three persons took place ou Saturday afternoon, the 17th ulfc., shortly before noon, iv Castle street, Adelaide.'a. by-thoroughfare running between Halifax and Gilles'streets. The principals in tho tragedy Avere Gustav Martin Carl Si-hlie, his Avit'e Doritz, Mrs Thyber, a AvindoAv, aud her daughter. It appears that Schlie and his Avii'o arriA'ed in the colony in March last, and Avcro married at Angasstrect Lutheran Chm-ch. Shortly after tho marriage they went to reside in Ely Place, a lane off Castle-street, AA'hcrc a disagreement soon took place, OAA'ing to Schlic's intemperate habits. The pair frequently quarrelled, but as all the Avrangling Avas carried on in the German language none of those resident in the adjoining a\-ci*c able to comprehend the exact nature of Avhat was taking place. This sort of thing continued until about four Avccks ago, Avhen Mrs Schlie obtained a protection order airainst her husband, and left him, being apparently on good terms. She then obtained a situation as a monthly nurse, aud was so engaged for two Aveeks. After leaving she resided at Mrs Thybcr's, in Cattle-street, aa'lio is also a German, Avhere she remained until tho events of Saturday occurrod. On Friday morning the tAvo met, and Schlie told his Avife that his clothes were very dirty, and that he had had nothing clean since she had left him. An arrangement Avas made by AA'hich he Avas to leave AA'hat clothes ho had at Mrs Thyber's on the folloAving morning, Mrs Schlie agreeing to Avash them. In the evening Schlie, having been drinking for nearly tlte Avholc day, because very abusive, and used blasphemous expressions iv a yard adjoining that belonging to Mrs Thyber, defamatory both to Mrs Thyber and his wife. Schlie, Avho Avas in tho employ of Messrs Euichke and Co., timber merchants, of Hindmarshsquare, for some days after tho separation from his AA'ifo Avas noticed to bo in Aery loav spirits, and complained to a felloAV employee that he felt very much depressed. At about ten a.m. he obtained permission from his einploA'ers to leave Avork. He arrived at his home in duo course, and at about a quarter to tAvelve Avent over to Mrs Thybcr's house, and called out for his Avife. Mrs Schlie went out and told her husband that iv consequence of his abuse the previous oA'eniiig she AA-ould haA-e nothing further to do Avith him, and that she Avould not aa.isli the clothes Avhii.-h he had left. He then Avent aAvay, but returned iv a icav minutes afterwards. He again saAV his Avii'o. and, addressing her in German, said, " Doritz, will you forgive iner'' to Avhicli she replied, "Let me alone, I'll ha\'e nothing-to do Avith you. If you AA'ant anything come round to the front door. You know your are bound to leave me in peace." He then asked her to conic into the yard, as he Avauted to speak to her. Sho again refused, and Avent into the kitchen, Avlicro she commenced to damp sonic shirts, previous to ironing them. Her husband then forced his Avay into the room, presenting a five-chambered revolver at her, and, without any further warning, fired, but missed the object of his vengeance. Mrs Schlie screamed out, but he, Avithout taking any notice, discharged tAvo " other barrels. One bullet, Avhich entered her facejust bcloAV the nose, traA'elled right through tho head almost to the neck at the back and caused her to fall. Mrs Thyber rushed doAA-n to the passage to render A\diat assistance she could. Schlie immediately on seeing her discharged another barrel deliberately at her, but fortunately tho bullet missed its mark, and penetrated a kerosene tin Avhich AA'as lying iv tho yard. Subsequently ho rushed into the front room, and without further provocation of any kind, fired a shot at Miss Thyber. Mrs Thyber and her daughters then Avent into the street, and Schlie returned to the passage, Avhere lay bis Avife iv a pool of blood, and there, Avith a large carving knife, stabbed her in KLweral places about the body and legs. He then dropped the revolver and Avent to his oavii home, Avhich is about thirty yards distant from the scene of the outrage. What followed can only be conjectured, i'or he was next seen breathing his last. Corporal Rose and Constable James, who had been called to Thybcr's house, on going to Schlic's to look for him, discovered blood on the kitchen floor and passage. They opened the bedroom door and discovered him lying ou the floor, AA'ith the bed and boards bespattered in blood. His throat Avas fearfully lacerated, the head being almost severed from the body. The Aviudpipe avus found to be cut; but nevertheless life avus not quite extinct. Before the arrival of Or O'Conncll, however, Avho Avas at once called in, Schlie had breathed his last. On examination it Avas found that in addition to the throat Avound there Avas a cut ou each ann inside the elboAV-joint -.it the bend of the arm and a cut on the left Avrist, an attempt having evidently been made to sever the vein. Beside the body a knife and razor besmeared Avith blood were found, as also a box containing 43 rcwolver cartridges. In the meantime, the woman, who was .-.till alive, with assistance got up and walked to a cab, in Avhich she Avas conveyed to the hospital. J)v Duulop, the senior housesurgeon, Avho is iv constant attendance, states that there is a faint possibility of her recovery, although such is very improbable.