Murder Will Out.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 127, 4 May 1885, Page 2

Murder Will Out.

The murder of Mr Joseph Bragoe Slack, for the perpetration of which William Barnes has been tried m Melbourne on his own confession, and been condemns ad to death, took place m September last. The d»ceased was a well-known resident of the city of South Melbourne, who led rather a secluded life, keeping no servants and doing all his own cooking. H© was last seen alive by many of his friends on the 9th September, and on the 11th was discovered with his throat cut, lying m his bed with a razor m his left hand. When hi* body was found the appearances were considered to be conclusive as to deceased having committed suicide, and he was buried under that impression. Barnes, who was imprisoned m Pentridge Goal for anot her crime, confessed to the medical officer, Di Stewart, on the 15th December, that he had killed Slack and pawned his jewellery, after throwing 1 the knife with which he committed the deed into thu Yarra. His statement was that he got m through the window at the back from the roof of a house, adjoining ; that he mado his w«y to Slack's bedroom, the deceased being,' then downstairs, and concenled himsnlf beneath the bed. Slack came upstairs after a time and got into bed, then he (Barnes), getting out; from under the. bed, disturbed some boots and made a noise. Deceased called one. Barnes, getting up had a struggle with him, and killed him. Birnes afterwards added that he got Slack by the throat and held him nniil he was quite dead, and then cut his throat with a knife, placed a razor m his hand, got the keys and robbed the safo. He left one % "atch them, because it was peculiar, and then made his wav back to Melbourne. On the Fall" Bridge he throw tl'c knife into the Yarra. After making his confession Barnes contradicted it, imt subsequent investigation led to the formal chiugo beinjf Itiid. A plpfi oF insanity was set up by the prisoner's counsel,