THE WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 266, 20 November 1879, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON TRAGEDY.

From the Post of last night we take the following account of the shocking tragedy which occurred in Wellington yesterday afternoon, a telegraphic report of which appeared in our town edition yesterday:— A son of Mr E. Miller, on Wellington Terrace, has this afternoon perpetrated a most determined double murder and suicide, having cut his father's throat and discharged a gun (only loaded with powder) at him; theu cut bis mother's throat, and finally his own. Dr Kesteven, who was the first to arrive of the medical men sent for, having been informed that a man had cut his throat, on entering the house by the front door, found a woman lying on the floor with her throat cut from ear to ear; the father (who was lying ill in hed) the same, and with several gashes on his head, and a broken musket on the floor; and the son, also with his throat cut to the backbone, lying on bis face on the back door-step. The house in which the fearful deed was perpetrated is situated on the Terrace, at the top of what is known as Jacob's Ladder It is a very pretty little villa, with an attractive flower garden, and one of the last places that one would associate with such a fearful outrage. Mr Edward Miller was about 52 years of age, and we are informed was employed iu the Treasury. For about a fortnight he has been incapacitated by illness from leaving his room, and was under tba attendance of Dr France. This morning his condition was such that it was considered advisable to call in Dr Grace as well. The murdered lady, Mrs Fanny Miller, was about 60 years of age The son, Clarence Miller, was about 19, and was learning the trade of a mechanical engineer at Mills' Foundry, but had been unable to go to work since last Friday, owing to an injury to his thumb, which he then sustained. Nothing extraordinary had been observed about his manner, but yesterday he was observed by the servant, Theresa Rooney, to load a gun which he had in his possession. On her asking him why he was loading it, he said that he was going to shoot a cat with it. No suspicion seems to have attached itself, however, to his conduct in any way. This morning at about half-past 10 the unfortunate lad went down to Dr France to fetch his father's medicine: On his return the servant gave the old gentleman his medicine, and Mr Miller, sen., then lay down to sleep Tbe son then told her to go about her work. Tbe girl said she would go and do some ironing, and accordingly went to the lawn at the back of the house in order to take in some clothes which were [on the line drying. Even at this time she appears to have had no suspicion of tbe dreadful tragedy that was to follow. She returned, she says, in less than a quarter of an hour, and during her absence did not hear tbe slightest noise, although in tbat brief interval the whole of the fearful tragedy was performed. On reaching the back door she was horrified at seeing young Mr Miller sawing away at bis throat with a carving knife. She shouted out, " Clarry, Clarry, what are you doing," and then rushed away in an almost frantic state of alarm for assistance. Acting on the advice of Mrs Galvin, a neighbor, she went for a doctor. Some delay arose, owing to the medical gentleman to whom

she at first went not being at home, but ultimately two or three doctors were in attendance. The unfortunate girl was quite ignorant tip to this time that anything had b a ppcned to her master or mistress, and her horror at finding what had actually occurred may be imagined; The persons who visited the house after the alarm wnS given, appear, in the first instance, to have seen the body f the unfortunate lad lying at the door of the scullery with his throat fearfully cut, and life quite extinct. They were then attracted by Hie smell of something burning, to the front room where the old gentleman had been sleeping. On entering the room a fearful spectacle met their gaze. The unhappy gentleman lay murdered on the bed, with his throat cut, and the body otherwise fearfully injured. The bed-clothes were on fire, and tbis bad caused tbe smell of burning wbich first attracted attention to the room. The broken stock of a gun was found lying on the bed, and the barrel on the floor. Tbe presumption is, that young Miller, during the absence of the'servant, entered the room, discharged the gun at bis father, thus setting fire to tne feedblothe., that he then proceeded to batter him on the bea. and body with the gun until it broke, and that finally he cut his throat with the carving-knife. It is believed that the gun was loaded with powder only, and heme the discharge did not injure the unhappy victim to any great extend. The body of Mra Miller was found lying Jn tbe passage leading to the kitchen. A scuttle of coals was lying scattered close to the body, and it is supposed that she was in the act of carrying them to the fire when she was attacked by the frenzied young man and her throat cut from ear to ear. He must then have gone into the scullery and commenced to cut his own throat, when he was discovered by the servant girl as already stated. That all this could have been effected in the brief space of fifteen minutes, and with so little disturbance, seems almost incredible. The deceased gentleman, Mr Miller, sen., was of a very amiable disposition, and was very much respected. He was at one time manager of the Wellington Branch of the Bank of New South Wales, but had retired, aud lately, we believe, had been employed in the Treasury, as already stated. Immediately when it became known what had occurred the house was taken charge of ' by the police, Letective Warren, Sergeat Price, and a constable being quickly in attendance. DR. MIRBACH'S STATEMENT. Shortly after the occurrence Dr. Von Mirbach called at our office, and made the followiug statement :— " About I o'clock today I was called upou to proceed to the house occupied by the Miller family. I went to the place at once, and on entering the house found thafc the passages smelt strongly of gunpowder, and tbat there was a considerable quantity of smoke about. In the front bedroom I found old Mr Miller lying on his bed with his throat cut across, and quite dead. There was a long and deep wound on the right side of the neck, just under the ear. The cut went down as far as the vertebrae, and death must have been instantaneous. There were also four long deep parallel cuts on the right side of tbe bead. The barrel of a gun, stained with blood, was lying alongside the bed on the floor, and on the bed the stock of the gun was found. It was covered with blood and hair, and had evidently been broken over the old man's head. The neighbors state that they did not hear anything like the report of a gun, and it is supposed only a blank charge was fired. In a passage between the kitchen and the bedroom, Mrs Miller senior was lying with a deep cat across her throat. She also wa3 dead. On the table in the kitchen were three knives spattered with blood, and tbe whole of the wall leading to the yard was covered with blood. In the scullery young Miller was lying on his face, with his head in the yard and hia body in the scullery. A woman servant saw young Miller cut his throat, and ran away and gave the alarm. About an boar before the tragedy happened young Miller, who had a sore finger, went to Dr France's residence and had his wonnd dressed, and at the same time obtained from the doctor some medicine for his father. Some time ago a brother of young Miller's committed suicide on the West Coast, and it is believed that insanity is hereditary in the family. ALLEGED SYMTOM. OP INSANITY. We learn that the supposed perpetrator of this fearful tragedy bas on more than one occasion shown symptoms of aberration of intellect. Although, aa a rule, cheerful in his demeanor, and active)and industrious in his work, he has been known at intervals to give way to fits of uncontrollable frenzy, which have seriously startled those with whom he haa come iu contact at the time.