SHOCKING ATTEMPT AT MURDER IN INVERCARGILL.
Invercargill, June 16. A deliberate attempt at murder took place iu the Harp of Erin Hotel yesterday, by a man named John Brennan, alias Oloach, who was a seaman ou board the Scimitar, which recently arrived in Dunedin with immigrants. Brennan had been acting as cook in the Hotel for some weeks, but left his situation a week ago. He came back on Fiiday and left again next day. Returning yesterday he asked for dinner. It being past the usual time, lie was tol d to go to the kitchen where he had dinner. A nurse girl named Mary Hall, aged fifteen, was heard to reply to Brennan, in answer to some remarks, “mind your own business,” Ho then said lie would think no more of cutting her throat than that of a young sucking pig. The housekeeper who heard this conversation sent the girl upstairs to be out of the way for a short time. The girl returned to the kitchen to wash up, and in a few moments afterwards Brennan was met by the house keeper coming out of the kitchen with an adze in his hand. He said, “I have done it,” and lifted the adze in a threatening manner to the woman, who ran away and got assistance. The girl was found lying on hexside in a pool of blood, with the back part of her skull split open. On being accused by the landlord, Brennan said he could not help it, he intended to hang for it, and was sorry it occurred in the house. The girl was taken to the hospital, but the doctors say there is no hope of her recovery. Brennan is in custody. He is a native of Loudon, and forty-five years old. On being charged by the police, he said sixpence would have saved the girl’s life. He did not know what demon possessed him and put the adze into his hand, he supposed it was the devil who got hold of him. He had asked the girl for a drink, which she refused to give him. The girl, with her parents, wore passengers by the Scimitar, and it is said that Brennan had entertained tender feelings towards her.
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Bibliographic details
Globe, Volume I, Issue 14, 16 June 1874, Page 2
Word Count
375SHOCKING ATTEMPT AT MURDER IN INVERCARGILL. Globe, Volume I, Issue 14, 16 June 1874, Page 2
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