THE TRAGEDY AT DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 871, 12 May 1871, Page 2

THE TRAGEDY AT DUNEDIN.

Our telegrams recently announced the occurrence of a fearful tragedy at Caversham, Dunedin, Mra M'Phee having cut the throat of one of her children, and afterwards taken her own life. We take the following details from the Otago Daily \ Times : — A murder, followed by an attempt at self. destruction was committed at Caversham yesterday. The circumstances of tl>e case are very painful. Mrs Agatba MThee (the wife of Mr Donald MThee, the licensee of the All Nations Hotel, and who is also a contractor), a woman 37 years of age, is the mother of four children, the oldest aged nine years and the youngest four. About half-past seven o'clock yesterday morning the oldest child, hearing a noise in the bedroom, opened the door, and saw the mother cutting the throat of the youngest. She at once told her father, who was outside, filling the horse-trough. He rushed in, and found the youngest child dead, her head nearly severed from her body, and the mother with her own throat badly cut. The instrument with which she had nearly hacked off her child's head, and attempted to take her own life, was abutchpr's knife, about 18in in length. As soon as the occurrence was kuown, no time was lost in sending for skilled assistance. Dr. Hammond, on arrival, sewed up Mrs M'Phee's wound, but her recovery is doubtful. Mr J. T. Thomson, J.P., was sent for. She stated to him that on Wednesday morning last, Peter Kane, contractor, and a partner of her husband, slept in the house that night, and, her husband being away, entered her room and attempted to take liberties with her. She afterwards complained to her husband, who threatened to prosecute Kane, upon which Kane made statements damaging to Mrs M'Phee's moral character, and which she repelled as false. Yesterday morning, previous to the occurrence, the husband told her that he was going that morning to take proceedings in the matter, so as to bring it before the Court, and that she would have to appear to give evidence. She said she could not, as her nerves would not allow her. In the afternoon, Mr Strode, R.M., went out and took her deposition, which was to the effect that Peter Kane had committed an assault with intent upon her. Kane and her husband, we are informed, worked together at the Peninsula. On Tuesday, Kane came to town to draw their cheque, a part of which he had to pay Mrs M'Phee, and slept at the house. Mr M'Phee remained at the Peninsula. She was very fond of the child she killed. It was rather helpless through paralysis in the side. The neighbors speak well of the family as quiet, steady people. Kane was arrested yesterday on a charge of assault with intent. The woman subsequently died from the effects of her self-inflicted wounds. At the inquest the following evidence was taken : — Donald M'Phee said : I am a publican and had a contract with a man named Kane. I live at Caversham. The deceased persons were my wife and daughter. My wife was about 30 years of age, and my daughter's age was four years. It is nearly 12 years since I have been married. When I came home on Saturday night my wife told me she had been abused by Peter Kane. I burst out crying when she told me the circumstances. She said, "Do you think I am gxnlty ?" I said, "No." She said she was awakened up at once, and found that the lamp she kept in the room had been put out, and felt somebody taking hold of her. Though she resisted, he accomplished what he wanted. When she had an opportunity she got a steel and threatened to kill him unless he cleared out. In the morning he came back and called her a prostitute, and all the names that he could think of. He threatened [that if she took the charge into Court, he was better in Court than she was, and made remarks about the slur other people would cast upon her. He came back again and wanted her to make it "all right " and not to tell me. He gave her L 6, but that was my share of the contract money which he should have given her. On Saturday night and Sunday I conversed with my wife about taking the case into Court. She did not altogether object, but was very averse on grounds of delicacy and nervousness. I had no occasion to suspect her honour at all. However, she finally consented to come to Court. We went to bed about eleven o'clock on Sunday night. She then seemed quite rational, but much distressed about her character. On Monday morning we both got up at the same time — about half-past six o'clock. I made the fire, and went out to fill the trough, leaving her putting the kettle down. She was quite rational, and asked me among other things, when I was going to town. In three or four minutes after going out, my danghter Mary Ann came running out, and cried " Da, mother's killed herself and Nelly." I ran in at once, and saw both of them lying on the floor in a pool of blood. I did not see the wound, but judged her throat was cut. I saw my wife was not dead, but could not judge whether my daughter was alive or not. We said nothing to each other. I just cast my eye on her, and ran out to the neighbors for assistance. Before she died she acknowledged to me that I had been a kind husband to her. During the lime I have been married to her, I have never noticed anything wrong with her mind. She was sensitive, but sensible and intelligent. I never had an angry word with her. Alex. Fraser, contractor, said : 1 live nearly opposite to the house of the deceased. Yesterday morning, at about half-past seven o'clock, I was at the end of my house, and saw Mr M'Phee and his oldest daughter running from a neighbor's towards his own dwelling. I also saw Mr Thomas Lang upnning towards it. Concluding there was something wrong, I ran over and followed them, immediately behind them, through the house to the back part, where I saw Mrs M'Phee with her throat cut lying on the floor in a pool of blood. She was reclining towards the dressing table, but was not leaning against it. I could see the head of the little girl from under her mother. I think she was dead at .the time. 1 asked MThee if he knew where their infant was. He said "No." She looked towards me, and I said, "Mrs M'Phee, where is the baby ?" She pointed upstairs. I ran up and found the infant all right in bed. I then ran down stairs and went for the constable at the police station. She was quite sensible to the last. About 11 o'clock yes-

terday she asked me " When is that «fsh going to come V I said, " What man ?" She replied, " Peter Kane." She did not seem to have a dread of seeing him. She seemed wishful that he should be brought to her. She tried to tear open the wonnd. I have known her during the past three years, during which time she has been a sober and sensible woman. I have never known her threaten to commit suicide. Mary M*Nair, who, on being addressed by the Coroner as "Mrs M'Nair," said she was a single woman, deposed : — On. being told of what had occurred, and being asked to the house, I went, and saw Mrs M'Phee. She waved her hand to me to com c in, but did not speak. She was V. lying with her head upon the little girl. I saw the carving knife and steel, now produced, lying close by her hand. Two other women were binding up her throat, and I assisted them. I remained in the house the whole of the day, with the exception of being absent a few minutes for refreshment. It waa about half-past 10 o'clock before she said anything. She then asked the time, and it was told her. She asked me if she thought she could live till "that man" came. I asked, "What man." She replied, "Peter Kane." In answer to me, she said she had nothing to say to him, only she was anxious to satisfy Mr M'Phee that she was an innocent woman. She then asked Mr M'Phee to come into the room, and when he did so, she asked him to forgive her, by which I understood forgiveness for destroying herself and her child ; and she hoped the Lord would forgive her. 1 think she said something to him about Peter Kane. She asked a lady to kneel down and pray ; and asked if we thought the Lord had forgiven her, because she had no bad in her heart. In the evening, when no one but ourselves was present, she asked me if I had laid ■ Nelly out. I said "Yes." She said where have you laid her out? I told her I had laid her out in the room where it was done. I told her I had gone to Mrs Lucas's opposite and got a little nightgown for the child. I asked her if I had done right, and she replied "Oh yes." I said to her, "Yon have a good mind of what you done this morning V She replied, " Yes, of course I have." I asked her, ' c Did you intend to do this when I saw you last night ?" She answered saying, "I have been thinking of doing it since Wednesday last." I asked her why she had thought of it from Wednesday ? She said she was obliged to tell M'Phee, and that if M'Phee was much annoyed she would have to do it, and take the two youngest children with her, saying, "If he cannot take it well I can never look him in the face again." She told me that she had told him on Saturday night, and that seeing Mai crying and so much put about she had made up her mind on Sunday to do it. I asked her where Nelly was when she took her, whether she followed her into the bedroom or took her in. She said she took her in in her arms. Little Nelly, she said, asked her " Where are you goiug to take me to, ma ?" and that she replied " 1 am going to send you to heaven." I asked her how she did it. She said " I laid her across the bed ; she cried a little, but it was soon over." I asked her why she pitched upon Nelly first. She said "Ever since Wednesday Nelly always asked to go along with me. v I thought I would take her first and the baby next." I said "Mrs M'Phee, do you mean to say you were in your proper senses when you did this 1" She answered " Yes, of course I was." I asked whether she was not sorry for what she bad done. She only said "Nelly is in heaven ; she's all right." I think she said once during the day that she was sorry for what she had done ; but it was no use to be sorry then — it was too late. During the time I have known her, she had not shown the least tendency to insanity or to low spiritedness. She was also a temperate, sober woman. She said during the day that she hoped nobody would look down on her husband for what she had done, as he had had no hand in it. A verdict of temporary insanity was returned.