TRAGEDY IN DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 930, 13 February 1880, Page 3

TRAGEDY IN DUNEDIN.

( Conformed from the Morning Herald.) A t an early hour on Saturday morning last, in Dmedia, a tragedy in some respects similar to that which took place in Wellington a few months back, occurred in Great King street. Quite early in the morning it became generally known that Mr Attiwell Hay 09, who has resided in Dunedin during the last 12 or 13 years, hid killed his wife by cutting her throat with a razor, and had also destroyed his own life. Besides the two victims there slept in the house that night Miss Hayes (aged 17), Master Hayes {10), and Emanuel Tien wick, a lodger. O.i Fri lay night they all retired to bed at 10 30, and nothing had occurred to lead the inmates to think that the deceased lived otherwise than 0:1 the moat friendly terras. A few minutes before six o’clock those in the house were awoke by hearing screams from Mrs Hayes, Trenwick immediately ran to Hayes’ bedroom, and on opening the ,4 o >r saw Mrs Hives sitting on the bed with h-r throat cut. Mr llayes was on a chair in front of a lo ikingglass, in the act of drawing a razor across his throat. Before Treuwick could rush upon him he had succeeded in making a slight cut, from which blood poured Treuwick called young Hayes and Miss Hayes to his assistance and soon threw him down, anti He raz ir dropped to the floor. Both Treu wick's and the boy’s hands weie cut in the struggle. After overpowering Hayes, thinking that Mrs Hayes required immediate attention, ho ran out on the footpath and cried “ Murder.” He nas soon heard by Gilks (a dairyman), and Fountain (night watchman at the Hospital), who was then returning home. Giiks took a stout stick and went into the house, and saw Hayes standing in the passage with his shirt and trousers on. He had a sma’l cut in his throat. Gilks imagined that Hayes was going to attack him and raised his stick, when Hayes told him he might put the stick down Trenwick aud Fountain then entered the house, and the former hurriedly changed his clothes and ran to the Police •Station and also for medical assistance Gilks, after looking in Hayes’ bidroora, ran off to bring Mrs Gilks to attend to Mrs Hayes, but the latter must have been then quite dea 1. -V policeman now arrived on the scene, aud Gilks, not being aware that Trenwick was away for me lical aid, advised the constable to look after him, thinking he had run away. When Gilks came hack. Hayes was in thekircuen on one side of the table, aud Fountain on the other. Hayes caught un a large tab'e knife, and plunging it into his throat, inflicted a deep wound, dropped on the floor, aud expired in a very short time. Fountain states that when going home he saw a man standing in front of Hives’ door crying “Murder.” Gilks then came up, and the three entered the house by the back door. Treu vick went into Hayes’ bedroom, and pushed him into the passage, when Fountain took hold of him and tried to force him out of the house, but could not do so as the front door was not open. Gilks and Trenwick went away, leaving Fountain in the house with Hayes, his daughter, and son. Soon Hayes rushed into the kitchen, followed by Fountain, and picket up a amill table knife, which the latter wrested from him. The children were then in another room. It was a difficult matter to keep hold of Hayes, and Fountain had only his left wrist clasped when ho picked up a large carving knife, and plunged it right through from one side to the other, causing the blood to spurt over Fountain's cloths. He then flung the knife down, sank into a corner of the room, and shortly afterwards expired. By this time a knot of eight or nine persons had gathered in front of the house, but though requested to go for assistance they would not. Fountain says he was personally acquanted with Mr Hayes, and in a conversation which took place between them lately, the latter had complained of having been out of work for a considerable time, and of several other matters. Trenwick states, and the statement is corroborated by Miss and Master Hayes, that Mr Hayes was always 011 the most friendly terms with him. For many years past Mr Hayes has taken a prominent part in the Goo I Templar and Rcchabite organizations ; moreover, ho was a member of Mr Bruntou’s church, and was well-known to he a steady-going, hardworking mao. He was not out of eraploym nr, and certainly not in want. Before U« died, and when quite able to speak, he was asked why he had killed his wife, but he did n-.t give any explanation From what could be lo .rut, t lie act was an unpremeditated one Hays had not said or done anything to afford the least ground for anticipating that he would do such a thmg, although his iiitiuta-.e from '3 had noticed that tor the last three weeks or so he had not been free in c •uvorsiog with them, and did not take much notice of those with whom it was his custom to associate. At the inquest, which was held on Monday, before Ur Hocken, Coroner, a verdict t hat the homicide and suicide had been committed by the deceased Attiwell Hayes whilst he was iu a state of temporary insanity, was returned.