THE WELLINGTON TERRACE TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5818, 21 November 1879, Page 3

THE WELLINGTON TERRACE TRAGEDY.

CORONER’S INQUEST. An inquiry into this terrible affair was held at the scene of the tragedy on Thursday morn ing by Dr. Johnston, coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr. Edward Anderson was foreman. The coroner said that they had been called together to inquire into a tragedy of so terrible a character that he hardly felt able to make the few necessary preliminary remarks. The deceased were well known here, and he (the Coroner) had known Mr. Edward Miller for over twenty years as one of the most respectable citizens of Wellington. He was highly accomplished, deeply read, and a meat amiable person. He was an indulgent husband and father. He had been suffering for years with an incurable organic disease, and had borne his sufferings with great philosophy and calmness. After some further remarks,

The jury proceeded to view the bodies, and the following evidence was then taken:— Dr. Mirhach deposed that shortly after 12 o’clock on Wednesday a lady called on him in a carriage, and asked him to go up to Miller’s house in her carriage, while she went on to Dr. Grace’s. She said a dreadful accident had happened. On arrival at Mr. Miller’s he found Drs. Collins and Kesteven outside ; and they all entered the house together. There were two or three persons in the house then. Witness and the other doctors went into Mr Miller’s room, and on entering the room witness smelt a strong odour of gunpowder. A broken gun was in the room, the barrel on the floor, and the etock on the bed, the butt pointing towards the head of the deceased, Edward Miller. The latter was on the bed quite dead, but still warm. He appeared to have been dead from about a quarter to half an hour. On examining the body he could see at once that it was no suicide, as he at first had been informed. and Drs. Collins and Kesteven concurred in this opinion. Deceased was lying on his right side with his legs partly out of bed, as if he had been in the act of getting out of bed, but was thrown back. Immediately under the right ear was a deep long wound, reaching down to the vertebnc, and severing all the vital parts. There were four long parallel wounds on the left side of the bead, and two of them near the ear were incised as if they had been inflicted with a sharp instrument. The other two were over the eye, and were contused, as if inflicted by a blunt instrument such as the butt of a gun. Witness then saw tho body of Mrs. Miller, which was lying between the passage and the kitchen. There was a deep cut across the throat, just below the larynx, severing the windpipe. This wound was sufficient to cause almost immediate death. In the kitchen, near the latter body, was a table knife (produced), covered with blood. From the position of the body, and that of the knife, witness judged that deceased could not have used the knife herself to inflict the wound. Death had taken place about twenty minutes before wituess r arrival. Witness’ attention was then attracted to the door at the other side of the kitchen, leading in to the scullery. Here there was a sideboard bespattered with blood, as was also the wall and floor. There were two table knives on the sideboard, both bespattered with blood. In the scullery witness saw the body of Clarence Miller, the head resting on the door-step, and a pool of blood under him. The carving knife (produced) was near his right hand, about 18in. away, There was a deep wound on the body, from right to left, apparently self-inflioted. It was a most determined cut. Witness’s impression, after close examination and consideration, was that Clarence Miller pointed the gun towards the chest of his father, close enough when fired to burn the bed clothes, and this latter fact also prevented the report being heard. The charge was evidently a blank one, as there was no sign of shot or ball. This attack probably awoke the father, who attempted to get out of bed, but was thrown back by an attack with the butt end of the gun. This attack would cause the contused. wounds on the head. Young Miller must then have procured a knife 'from the kitchen, and with it inflicted the other wounds. After this, he must have met his mother, who was probably attracted by the noise, thrown her down and cut her throat with the same knife while down. He then appeared to have left the knife on the table close by, and procured three knives from the sideboard. Two of these (table-knives) were rather blunt, and he appeared to have selected the carving knife and with it cut his own throat. Witness was of opinion that Clarence Miller committed the deeds during a sudden attack of acute mania, induced by reading the newspaper reports of the suicide on Monday. The servant girl told witness that she saw young Miller cutting his throat, and this was the first alarm she had.

Dr. France deposed that he had known the deceased Edward and Fanny Miller for upwards of twenty-four years.' Air. Miller had been ill during the past fortnight, suffering from carbuncle on the back of the neck. Witness was in the room with Edward Miller on Wednesday morning, at about 11.25, Dr. Grace being in consultation, A change in the medicine was agreed upon, and Clarence was instructed to follow witness down to his house to get the medicine. Clarence arrived at witness’s house shortly! after 12. Witness told Clarence to give his father a dose as soon as he got back, and it appears that this was done. Witness had always considered that Clarence was very affectionate towards his parents. Witness knew that Miller’s children had a tendency to lunacy. The second son, Louis, committed suicide at Grey mouth about twelve months ago, having previously attempted to do so. The third son, Sydney, witness believed had been in an asylum, and may be so now. He was somewhere in Australia. Tom, who was in Zululand, was also peculiar. In August of last year Clarence Miller was brought to witness by his father for treatment. He was suffering from depression of spirits and morbid fancies. He had no special delusion. Edward Miller was about 52 years old, Airs. Miller about 60, and Clarence 19. Edward Miller had not died intestate. He was in very good circumTheresa Rooney was then called, and deposed to the facts as already related. Clarence seemed to be much depressed about his father’s illness. He was always very affectionate to his father. When the doctors left the house on the previous morning, Clarence asked what they had about his father. Witness told him not to mind, but to go to Dr. France’s for the medicine, He went, and was only a short time away. Witness gave Air. Aliller the medicine. After this she saw Clarence, who asked her to go into the workshop to see something. She went and stood at the door. Clarence asked if she had seen the washers, but she said no, she had not. Clarence stood aside, leaving witness room to enter, but she did not do so, but turned away. She noticed that Clarence was very pale. He followed her. Witness said she was going to do some ironing, and he said, “ go and see after your clothes.” A 1 rs. Miller passed them at this time. Witness went to the lawn, and was away about ten minutes, or a quarter of an hour, during which time she heard nothing to alarm her. Witness then described what she saw upon returning to the house, which has already been reported. After bringing Mrs. Gavin, they saw Clarence lying on the door-step, and he lifted his head. Witness at once went in search of a doctor, and sent Dr. Collins up. Mrs. Gavin had in the meantime got Dr, Mirbach, In answer to Detective Browne, the witness said that after Drs. Grace and France had left the house, Mrs. Miller asked her what she thought of Clarry. Witness replied that she did not know, but she wished he was back at his work again. Witness did not know why Airs. Miller made this remark. On one day

this week, Mrs. Miller had said to witness that she thought if Mr. Miller were to die Olarry would not be able to live.

This was all the evidence, and after the coroner had briefly summed up,

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that Mr. and Mrs. Miller were killed by Clarence, who then killed himself, while in a state of unsound mind.