INVERCARGILL TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2165, 14 April 1908, Page 3

INVERCARGILL TRAGEDY.

CONCLUSION OF INQUEST. VERDICT OF IMPULSIVE INSANITY. Press Association. INVERCARGILL, April 13. The inquest concerning the deaths of tho victims of the 'Crinan-street tragedy was concluded rthis evening. Archibald McLean, city missionary, said he had daily opportunities of observing Baxter’s relation's with his family, and would say they were a very happy family. Baxter was not hasty-tempored, and witness had never heard angry words. Baxter had been ill about a month. Dr. Ewart described the wound, and added that insane people were liable to impulses which may sometimes be of such force as to bo irresistible. There may or may not ho signs of intellectual aberration. The chief feature of the'disorder is an impulse to destroy, and it may not be controlled by the person. Geo. McArter, employed in Baxter’s shoo and nursery, said that on the Monday preceding the tragedy Baxter was'pale and very quiet, and seemed in a low and weak state. His head seemed depressed for about a fortnight. 'At 8 .p.m. on the night of tho tragedy lie went to Baxter’s house for 'instructions. He saw Mrs. Baxter, who took his message to Baxter, and brought back replies, riho said Baxter’s bead was bad. Margaret Mc-Bobie, who had nursed Mrs. Baxter through her recent illness, said that (Baxter was kind to his familv, but for a fortnight before witness left the house he had been complaining of pains in his head. Witness thought .him far from insane. He would be in bed all day sometimes, or would go out for part of tho dav, and then come home and go to bed. During this fortnight ho seemed miserable, and ate little. One night he took a bottle of laudanum from witness’s room, ami when asked to return it said the bottle was broken. . The jurv found that James Reid Baxter committed suicide while suffering from impulsive .insanity,, and that the other victims met their deaths at his hands while he was so suffering. The police were specially commended for their action in dealing with the emergency.