Shocking Tragedy near SYDNEY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 121, 28 April 1883, Page 2

Shocking Tragedy near SYDNEY.

ATTEMPTED DOUBLE MURDER. SUICIDE OF THE WOULD-BE MURDERER. Last night, bstween 8.15 and 8.30 (says the Sydney Evening News of the 18th April), a rnoßt tragical affair, and one which has caused the greatest possible excitement m the district, occurred at No, 5, Grosvenor-terrace, Moorehead - street, Waterloo. Mrs Cornish, a widow, occupied the house. She has two daughters, named respectively Jane and Emily, the latter being about; SI years of age. Jane lives with her mother, but Emily is m service m Burwood, and yesterday evening had come to see her mother. Mrs Co/nish had a lodger named John Bennets, 30 years of age, a ropeinaker, employed at the works oi Messis Forsytn. In the sitting-room were Mrs Cornish, her two daughters, and the man Bennetts, having their evening meal. He requested Jane Cornish to fetch a little water. This request she complied with, and she left the room for this purpose. Bennetts, witnout any warning whatever thi n drew a six-chambered revolver and shot Emily Cornish m the left cheek. Mrs Cornish attempted pluckily to wrest the weapon from him, bub he got his hand clear, and pointed the pistol at her. head and pulled the trigger, but the weapon seems to have nrssed fire. She ran away, got out of the house* and | made an alarm. Meanwhile Bennetts | fiied a second time at the unfortunate j girl Emily Cornish, as she ran round the table, the shot again taking effect m her head. Believing her to be dead, Bennetts then placed the revolver to his mouth, and shot himself dead. Con stables Miller and M'Coll were soon oq the scene of the tragedy, and caused to be removed to the South Sydney Morgue, and Emily Cornish to the Prince Alfred Hospital, where she was attended to by Dr M'Master. She

now lies m a most critical condUiony^and her recovery is most improbable. motive assigned for the dreadful dccii is jealousy. A few weeks back Emily Cornish appears to have broken off an engagement with a young man, since which time Beunetts had paid her great attention. She seems subsequently to have made it up with her former sweetheart, and Bennetts became aware of this. During the last three weeks or so he has been drinking heavily, bub he does not appear to have given the slightest indication of his fell purpose, either by word or deed. From an apprentice shop indenture, found m Bennetts's box, he would seem co have been a native of fc'almoutb, Cornwall, England, at which town he was bound apprentice to a Mr Came, a rope manufacturer, m the year 1865. Neither of his parents were parties to the indenture, but a guardian, so that he was m all probability an orphan at that time.