The Ballarat Tragedy

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 83, 3 January 1891, Page 4

The Ballarat Tragedy

Mflbouene, December 16. A shocking tragedy occurred at Ballarat ou '.In 9b inst., when James Johnston, a well-known stock and station a?en!. suffocated his family of four children, shot his wife, and poisoned himself. Theses of the eh ldren ranged from 2 to 8 years, the two eldest being twins. The doinestie relations of the family were of the happiest kind, he being a loving and devoted husband and a fond fatht-r. always being with the children Bi;d taking part in their sports. The children occupied a room witu the nurse, Huks, the youngest, sleeping alongside Ler. During the niglil Hicks was aroused from sleep hy the noise of an < exploding pistol, and aflerwarJs shs heard the door shut. Fearing the house had : been attacked by burglars, she did not move, but everything being quiet afterwards she went to sleep. Rising early, she proceeded to an outhouse to clean the shoes ot the children, without suspicion, as the little ones were covered tip with bed clothes as usual. On returning to the bed'oom, however, and attempting to arouse the eldest, she found he was dead and cold, and an examination of the others dUclosed that they were lifeless. The horror-struck nuiseot once rushed to the budrooni of her mistress, whom she found b'ing on the floor shot in the head. Assist»nce was called, and Johnson was found in bed in a comatose state. Mrs Johnson was' partially conscious, for she muttered in a low breath to the nurse, "Jim did it," and at times said in an undertone, " Poor Jim; dear mother." Afterwards she relapsed into an unconscious condi* tion, subsequently dying. It would ap» pear that the murder was premeditated, and that ihe children were smothered before the family retired. Johnston sent his wife and one of the servanis sway for some medicine, and the oihor girl now remembers nothing. Johnston locking the' doors after they had goiie out, it is surmised that he proceeded to the children's room and committed the crime. The post mortem examination disclosed the fact that the two eldpst must have had a very severe struggle for their lives, one having her nose broken and the ofher her wrist fn»ctured, and her throat showing finger marks as though .-he had been strangled, so thnt Johnston had apparently arranged the bed clottes carefully over the bodies to make them appear in ■ calm sleep. Mrs Johnston's wrists and arms were also torn and lacerated, indicating that Johnston had attempted to smother her, but failing had seized a revolver which lay handy and shot her. It is alleged that John-don has been in difficulties for some time, and that lately ' his embarrassments have become most - pressing. __________