CRIME IN VICTORIA.

Evening Star, Issue 3444, 6 March 1874, Page 3

CRIME IN VICTORIA.

Late Victorian papers contain details of two shocking crimes. At Stawell, a married woman, named Emma Johnson, committed suicide by taking a large quantity of painkiller. The inquest disclosed a most distressing story. From the evidence given by the eldest daughter, it seems, that the husband had frequently illtreated the deceased, and that he was addicted to drink, and had been indulging freely. During his absence, on the night of February 7, his wife took a bottle and a-half of pain-killer, and wrote a note to her husband, which she fastened to the side of the tent, asking him to take care of the children, and to think of her sometimes, as when he had read what she had written she would be cold and dead. It seems, however, that he had returned to the tent before the poison had taken effect, and she then called his attention to the “ handwriting on the wall.” He then told her she had not taken enough, and urged her to take more, the result being, according to the evidence, that she took two bottles more from the box, and, pouring the contents into a glass, swallowed the draught while he was sitting beside her on the bed. Johnson has been committed for trial for manslaughter. —The second case is known as the°Bung Bong tragedy. James Potter was a shoemaker, residingat Bungßong, aboutnine miles from Maryborough, with.his three children a boy and two girls, aged seven years, four years, and fifteen months, and was a temperate hard-working man; but since the death of his wife about a year ago it was observed that his mind became somewhat affected, though not to such an extent as to justify his seclusion. Among other subjects to which be turned his attention was that of Spiritualism, and he was never tired of impressing his neighbors with the importance of its doctrines. It appears that the crime which he committed was not the result of sudden frenzy, but was planned and carried ® u “ w lO greatest deliberation. On the 3rd February he wrote to a gentleman iu the Grown Lands Office, Melbourne, with whom be was acquainted, stating what he intended to do. He said that he was going to cut the throats of two children, ami then commit suicide. The gentleman who received the letter at once made its contents known to the Chief r bi Police in Melbourne, and the Supei intendent of Police at Maryborough and Avoca were directed to send constables to Porter’s house to make inquiries, but unfortunately thev arrived too late prevent the intended erma from bemg comumUd. the police nM the house they found a notice on the door, to which the attention of the neighbors had been drawn about an hour before their arrival. It was written on a piece of paper, and was to the following effect ; “ Don’t come in, but send for the police.” A horrible sight was presented when the police burst open the door. Portor was found hanging quite dead from the “collar tie” of his dweflmg by a new hempen rope, and in an adjoining vnom were his three children each undressed, in a separate little bunk, with its throat cut. On the table there was a knife, with blood on it, with which the crime had evidently been committed, and pkoe of paper with the following words would have set fire to my house, tut fearing I would injure my neighbors. It was afterwards found that before cutting'the throats of the elder chilhlS\7i ho ,!r !r 4. h j d undressed a»d put to bed, he had inflicted wounds qq each of their heads with a shoemaker s hammer sufficient to have killed them. The following is a verbatim copy of a letter written by Porter, and found on a table in the house;— “To RVff o *-? « f . Bong. Kind friends thinking it would be best to say a few words about what I am going to do First there is aothmg 1 want to live for so I am going to WA S ec r d lf ,»t be true as most Christians would have us believe there are very few adults will ever get to heaven, perhaps the chances are JQOQ to 1 if it he, so 1 think it a crime to try to bring more into the world or state Where the odds are so much against them there is one bright side to this dark picture that is all children will go to heaven (so for love 1 am going to send three) as fo* * .® x pect to go to the samo place, l hirmy if nature did take its course I feel that my time would b.e short and I do not want tq leave nay children. I suppose I ?haff get no. sympathy from society I am np.t particular about myself but as the childreu done no wrong 1 hope some kind Imnd see them buried beside their mother, the ground is paid for there are two Cyprus treea growing in the garden which I would like planting over their grave 1 would like the statement regarding the cause of this deed putting into the papers as they are sure to make a hubbub and call me mad, and I want the truth known.” To hia friend Forter he wrote I have not told you what lam going to do, Jam tired of this life, and Christianity bo true, there is very little chance of adults getting to heaven, whereas all children go ; so in charity I am going to send three there. As for myself, I expect to go to the same place that 1 should u nature took its course. Had it not been for you and your family I would have done what I am about to do some months since.” ■The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed deliberate murder and suicide whilst m a state of sanity. The coroner at first refused to take the verdict* believing the deceased to have boan insane on religious matters ; but subsequently doubted his power to “J? A verdict was afterwards returned that Porter had murdered hia children, and had committed suicide when in a sound state. The coroner strongly dissented from the verdict, and endeavored to change the views of the jury, but without effect.