MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE,

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5360, 1 June 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE,

Wo take from the Uobarhm Mercury particulars of a horrible murder committed at Bream Creek, Tasmania, on Sunday the 12th May. The murderer attempted to shoot himself soon afterwards, and it was thought that the wound he had inflicted would prove fatal. It seems that he loaded hie gun with powder and nails, attached a string to his foot and the trigger, and placed the muzzle in his mouth. The contents of the barrel were lodged in the side of the jaw, but the brain was uninjured. It is stated that he was determined that if the murdered woman, who was his cousin, did not marry him sheshould not marry any one else. The evidence given at the inquest by the sister and father of the deceased was as follows :

Mary Jane Stacey deposed that the dead body viewed by the jurors was that of her sister Susannah, who she last saw alive about 3 o’clock on Sunday last at her parents’ house. Dick Copping was there. She and Susannah went into an out-house. Dick Copping came in a short time afterwards. There was no quarrelling between Susannah and him. Susannah said she would go and change her clothes to milk. She went into the dwellinghouse. Copping followed her and took hold of her sleeve ; but there were no angry words between them. Copping took off his coat, went outside; and took up an. axe. When Susannah saw him take up the axe she went into aii inner room and shut the door. The door had no fastening inside, and Susannah tried to‘ hold it to prevent Copping coming in. Copping forced the door open. Susannah stepped back, and Copping raised the axe against Susannah. Witness rushed out and called her father. Copping then rushed out of the house, ran down the garden, sat on the fence, and clapped his hands when father called to him. Father went into the house." Afterwards saw Susannah with her head on the child’s cot. She appeared dead. To a juror : Never heard any angry words pass between Susannah and Copping when going up the Tiers. Robert Stacey deposed that ho saw Copping at his house on Sunday, about two o’clock. He went away for about twenty minutes, and oh his return he saw Copping rush up against the door of the house. Asked him what he meant by it. Went to bring in the cows, and hearing his daughter Mary Jane calling out, ran up, and saw Copping rush and run away. Mary Jane said, “Dick Copping is murdering Susannah with the axe." Ran after Mm for a short space, and then went to see Susannah. Her head was buried in the child’s cot. I clapped her on the shoulder, and said, “My girl, what is the matter ?’’ She made no answer. I then ran after Copping, and called out, “You wretch, you have murdered ray daughter.” : He was sitting on the fence, and clapped his hands and said, “ Yes, I know that I have. He then jumped off the fence and said, “ She deceived me, and I’ll be hung for her like a man.” My wife was not at home, and I called my neighbor O’Brien and left my dead daughter in his care whilst I went for my wife. The ’ jury returned the following verdict;— “ That Susannah Stacey came to her death on Sunday, the 12th day of May, 1878, at Bream Creek, in Tasmania, by having been struck oil the head with an axe by Richard Copping, of which wound she died, and not otherwise."