MURDEROUS OUTRAGE IN KILMORE, VICTORIA.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 57, 3 January 1883, Page 3

MURDEROUS OUTRAGE IN KILMORE, VICTORIA.

Great excitement prevailed in the town of Kilmore (Victoria), on 4th December, when it became known that a murderous attempt ha<l been made on the lives of Mr and Mrs IVorman Campbell, who a^e among tholdest and most respected residnnts of this district, and wl.o reside on their farm two miles south of Kilmore. Mr Cau pbell had in his employ a colored man as woodcutter, whom he discharged, and with whom he parted on the most friendly terms. Early on Sunday morning, 4th December, the man in question is supposed to have entered Mr Campbell's bedroom by a window, for about 1 o'clock he was s f artled out of his sleep by a man sawing at his neck with a large carv-ing-knife, which, in the dark, fortunately came in contact with the top of the breastbone, and thus saved him from instant death. Th« would-be murderer, thinking he had killed Mr Campbell, was in the act of drawing the knife across Mrs Campbell's neck, when fortunately the blade was caught by Mr Campbell, who warded off the blowe but in so doing received a terrible gash in the hand. " The nian then rushed out of the room, followed by Mr Campbell, who was bleeding profusely. The wouldbe murderer, however, got outside and escaped. At daybreak information was given to the police, and Mounted-icoustab e. Purtallo started in jrursuit, followed about 8 o'clock by Sergent Hcpkinson and Constable Smith, who fell in with the culprit ajwut a mile south of Wandonjr. On sighting the police he darted off, and after being duly cautionei was fired upon twice, the last shot evidently taking effect, as blood was seen on a log where he had subsequently rested. In the afternoon about 50 horsemen were scouring the country in search of the mau, who was at length cleverly captured by Constable Purtallo at Uonaybrook, and lodged in Kilmore (jlaol. Mr e ampbell J 8 wounds are not considered dangerous by his medical attendant. — Age.