THE TIMARU TRAGEDY.

Evening Star, Issue 3977, 23 November 1875, Page 2

THE TIMARU TRAGEDY.

The ‘Timaru Herald’ reports that an inquest was held on Wednesday last, on the body of Reuben Drake, aged two years, who had been killed on tae previous day by his mother. The following evidence was taken : - Edward Drake, a laborer living at the Immigration Barracks, said that he identified the body lying there as that of his son Reuben, who was two years old. His wife was out of her mind, and was committed to the Lunatic Asylum by the Resident Magistrate on Tuesday afternoon. Witness was to have her ready to go to the Asylum on Wednesday morning, and he and the toaster of the barracks took her back to the barracks from the Court. When she returned she appeared very quiet, and began sewing. He and his son had tea in the room she was in. He finished his tea first, and went out of the room a little before eight o’clock. His son shortly afterwards followed, and witness told him to go back to tlje room in which his wife was. '1 he eon did as desired. Witness went to the closet, and when ho returned he found his son sitting at the front door of the building. He and’ his son then went to the room occupied by his wife, and found it secured inside. ■ Witness tried to burst the door open, aud it was then opened from the inside. He went into the room and saw his wife standing with blood on her throat. She immediately threw herself on the bed, and said, “I shall die, I have killed the child »s well.” He got across the bed to examine the child, and when a light was brought he found that its throat had been cut. The child died immediately. He never heard his wife say that she would hurt the child. .'he was cross with the child sometimes, but treated it well. The knife produced was his, and the razor he believed belonged to him. The razor was on a table in the room, and ihere was fresh blood upon it when he examined it. He did not know what caused his wife to go out of her mind. Dr MTntyro stated that Mrs Drake was now in the hospital, and he had hopes of her lecovery. Ho signed the certificate of herinsanity on Tuesday, but did not consider that she should haye been confined in the gaol previous to being sent to the asylum. He did not consider that she was accountable for her actions on Tuesday. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased died by the hands of Catherine Drake, with a rider, that, in the opinion of this jury, the said Catherine Drake was at the time she committed the act in an unsound state of mind. fShe will be brought up at the Resident Magisti are’s Court, and committed to the Supreme Court on a charge of “ wilful murder.”