THE INVERCARGILL TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 3530, 16 June 1874, Page 3

THE INVERCARGILL TRAGEDY

FULLER PARTICULARS. [By Telegraph.] Brennar, alias Cloach, now in custody for the attempted murder of Mary Hall, was a seaman on board the Scimitar, and had been anting as cook in the Harp of Erin Hotel for some weeks, but left his situation a week ago. Be came back on Friday, but left a-ain next day. Returning yesterday, he asked for dinner. It being past the usual time, he was asked to go to the kitchen, where he had dinner. The nurse girl named' Mary Hall, aged fifteen—was heard to reply to Brennar, in answer to some remarks, “Mind your own business.” He then said “ he would think no mere of cutting her throat than that young sucking pig. ” The housekeeper, who heard this conversation, sent the girl upstairs to be out of the way for a short time. The girl returned to the kitchen to wash up, and, in a few minutes afterwards, Frennar was met by the housekeeper coming out of the kitchen, with an adze in his band. He said “ I have done it,” and lifted the adze in a threatening manner to the woman, who ran away to get assistance. The girl was found lying on her side in a pool of blood, with the hack part of her skull split open. On'being accused by the landlord, Brennar said “he could not help it. lie intended to hang for it, and was sorry it had occurred in the bouse ” The girl . was taking to the hospital, but the doctors say there is no hops of recovery. Brennar is in custody. He is a native of London, and forty-five years old. On being charged by the police he said “Sixpence would have saved the girl’s life.” He did not know what possessed him and put the adze into his hand. He supposed it was the devil had got hold of him. He had asked the girl for drink, which she refused to give him. The girl, with her parents, was a passenger by the Scimitar, and it is said that Brennar had entertained tender feelings towards her.