A TASMANIAN TRAGEDY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 137, 21 May 1884, Page 2

A TASMANIAN TRAGEDY.

A Tasmanian paper says:—“ A correspondent sends us the following particulars of a fearful domestic tragedy which has just been revealed in the New Country district :—A horrible outrage has taken place in the New Country. It appears that a man named Stocks some few weeks ago was brought up before the magistrates for the maintenance of his wife. He was ordered to take her back to their home, or allow her so much per week for maintenance, and he chose the former alternative. For some little time past the wife has been missing, and the suspicions of the police having been aroused, search was made, with the result that the bodies of the woman and her infant were found, having undoubtedly been horribly murdered. From what has been gleaned it would seem that the murderer had first fired at his wife, but she, apparently, dodging her head, only a few shots penetrated her hat and scalp, not sufficient to kill her. Then in order to make sure of his victims, it looks as if the murderer had battered their brains out with a stone. During the search, the police, noticing a foul odour emanating from a particular spot, made a search there, and found the bodies as above described. When questioned as to the unpleasant smell. Stocks quietly remarked that an old cow had died there some time ago. He is now under arrest at the Ouse, along with his cousin Jenkins, suspected of complicity in the deed. The prisoner is well-known in the district, and is only about 24 years of age. Since his arrest he has exhibited extreme coolness, and cannot as yet have realised his position. The remains of his victims are said to be hardly recognisable.”