AN INFAMOUS WRETCH.

Evening Star, Issue 4081, 25 March 1876, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN INFAMOUS WRETCH.

The Sandhurst jrerrespondent of the MfJrpV bourne ‘ Argus * writes, ** I have, been U][ enabled to gather some further particulars ft in connection with the case of Duffus, who .. j. was arrested at Goornong, oh the change of having on the 17th of February criminally,,assaulted his own daughter, under the age, of twelve years. It seems that the pn- ■ * soner’s career has been one of crime before,, , and ever since he came to the Colony., ;" . Duffus, who is now about fifty years of age, K was some years ago in the service of . . Lord Clifford, county Meath, Ireland, i as gamekeeper, or something of the , n sort, and was transported to Australia for . , shooting at and killing a land-bailiff. His. incestuous relations with his offspring seem to have commenced a long time back. His eldest daughter is said, to be twenty-two years of age, and she, some years ago, was confined of a child, which is still living, of which the prisoner, her father, is the reputed parent. The next daughter is fifteen years of age, and her confinement is expected to take place shortly, and in this case also the child’s pregnancy is attributed to her father. In the case of the child whom Duffiis is alleged to have criminally assaulted *, on the 17th of February, and who will be . twelve years of age in July next, it is affirmed by the unfortunate girl that the abominable conduct of her father has been continually carried on for a period extending over four years, and the opinion of the medical gentleman who has examined her goesiar, it is stated, to confirm her allegation. Of coarse general readers will indignantly exclaim that the circumstances of the case should have been brought to light long ago, and the diabolical conduct of the prisoner punished as it deserved; but then the isolated condition of the family, and the thorough control which the father, undoubtedly, exercised over all the members of it, will at once ex-. plain why his coarse was not arrested until now. The prisoner’s wife, however, gave information to the police, who lost no time in obtaining and executing the warrant.