Christchurch Tragedy

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4, 9 July 1891, Page 2

Christchurch Tragedy

MBS MOSS' VERSION OF THE AFFAIR. (I'KR UNITED PRESS ASSOCI AT!ON\) CBfiiSTQHUBCH, JuJj 7. Moss on his marriage obtained some furniture of a Christcburch dealer to the amount of £60 payable By a certain date. The engagement was not met, and the vendor obtained a judgment and put in an execution yesterday. The bailiff was withdrawn on /Moss handing him two cheques drawn by his employers, Messrs Friedlander Bros., payable to number, and given him to pay a railway account. He endeavoured to obtain a loan from several sources to repay the amount, telling one of them the circumstances, and saying that neither he nor his wife 'would be alive next morning. He tried to buy poisons, and also a revolver. His wife says he first partially stunned her with a tomahawk and then got a razor, which she had just persuaded him to put aside, and endeavoured to but her throat, cutting the back of her heck and chin severely, and lacerating both her hands in the attempt to ward off the attack. In the struggle she gained the door, screaming. He then gashed his own throat most horribly, severing the windpipe. He still lives, but it is almost impossible he can recover. The wife's injuries are confined to frightful scalp and flesh wounds, not dangerous. Moss was liked by everybody, including his employers. His friends who had been made aware of his position, were on their way to square matters up when they met the messenger with the news of| the affair. Moss had a severe attack of brain fever a few months ago, and undoubtedly his mind was unhinged at the time of the deed. [Moss, who is only about 23 years of age, accompanied the last representative Canterbury cricket team to Wellington three or four months ago, and acted as umpire in the match. Moss also played for Canterbury against Wellington two season's ago, and distinguished himself by taking- all the 10 wickets in the first innings for 28 runs. He w&s also a prominent Association football player.]