MURDER OF A WIFE BY HER HUSBAND.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 538, 9 March 1876, Page 3

MURDER OF A WIFE BY HER HUSBAND.

The Wcstesn Australian Times of January 7th contains the following account of the murder of Mrs Kenneth Brown by her husband : During the forenoon of Monday Mr Brown and his wife quarrelled, whereupon he took up a powder bask and threatened to blow the roof off the house. The flask was taken away from him by a man named Simpson, who was employed in removing Mr Brown’s furniture to another house. Simpson states that Mr Brown appeared intoxicated, and continually walked up and down the passage in the house, “talking to himself.” At 3 in the afternoon another quarrel took place between the two in the presence of Simpson. On this occasion Mr Brown took up his gun and told his wife to leave the room or he would give her the contents of the gun. Simpson took the gun away from him, locked it up in the servants’ room, and gave the key to Mrs Brown, who had it. Simpson then left with a load of furniture. About 4 o’clock in the afternoon another quarrel occurred between Mr Brown and his wife in presence of their servant, Bridget Mountain in the kitchen. Mrs and Mrs Brown, on this occasion, went into the house, Bridget remaining in the kitchen. Some few minutes afterwards Mrs Brown came running towards the kitchen, calling out, “ Bridget, the gun ! ” Bridget, looking out, saw Mrs Brown close to her, and Mr Brown standing in the doorway of the house with the gun levelled at his wife. He fired, and the shot took effect in her right arm and side. Mrs Brown got into the kitchen, and Bridget shut the door. Mrs Brown immediately went out again. Bridget again shut the door, and heard the gun again fired. She then -went out, and saw the body lying by the kitchen dooor, shot in the head. Mr Brown acknowledged to a constable that he had shot his wife. Simpson states that Mr Brown was during the afternoon in the same state as in the morning, walking up and down talking to himself.