PAINFUL TRAGEDY AT TAKAKA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 76, 17 March 1876, Page 2

PAINFUL TRAGEDY AT TAKAKA.

A few days ago we reported the death under very painful circumstances of Mrs Thomas Scott, of Takaka, but were unable to give any particulars, as nothing beyond bare rumor had then reached Nelson. Since then, however, an inquest has been held by Gr. Sparrow, Esq., J.P., when evidence was adduced which ; may be summarised in the following brief narrative : — Thomas Scott, the husband of the deceased, had for some time past been drinking heavily, and on Sunday, the sth inst., returned to his home in a state of delirium tremens. On that same day, his wife, a young woman of 29 years of age, gave birth to her, seventh child, and the scene of misery tliat the house presented at that time, the wife in childbed without medical or, so far as we can learn, any other assistance whatever beyond what could be afforded by her children, the eldest pf whom was a boy of 14, the husband in a state of temporary madness, and the little ones having to shift for themselves as best they might. This state of things lasted from the Sunday until the following Thursday, when Scott went out to work on his land, and the children left the house to play outside. Before very long one of the children named Ellen heard the report of a gun in the house, went inside to see what was the matter, and there saw a sight which will probably haunt her to her dying day. The room, as may be imagined after what we have related, was in a horrible state of filth and confusion, and on the floor lay her mother perfectly dead, the upper part of her head having been blown off by the gun, which was lying on her body. The poor little thing ran out and gave the alarm, and a man named Webley, who was passing at the time, went into tbe house with her and saw the sickening sight as she had described it. Afc the inquest, after the above facts had been elicited, the jury returned a verdict of " Determined suicide," adding a rider censuring the husband for the brutal conduce that had driven his wife to take the fatal step. On the following Sunday the remains ofthe unhappy woman were conveyed to the cemetery for burial, but the llev. C. Moon, of Wakefield, who it was intended, should read the service, refused to do so, as the verdict was equivalent to one of felo de se. Under these circumstances the body was lowered iuto the grave amid indignant mutterings at what was felt to be such uncharitable conduct. We understand that the friends of the deceased intend to prosecute further enquiries into the whole ofthe circumstances attending this painful case.