AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2473, 21 February 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

ATTEMPTED MUEDEE. A deliberate attempt to murder a woman was made on Tuesday night Feb. 1, in a house situated at No, 7(3 Moor street, Fitzroy, Melbourne. It appears

that at about half-past 10 o’clock Mr Marsdeu, J.P., was passing the premises, whoa he heard a loud explosion, and thinking that something had happened, he at once went for the police. He returned to the place with Constable Gahan, and on entering the house they ’ were horrified to find a young woman named Catherine Perry, Iving on the floor weltering in her blood, and screaming terribly. Her mother, the occupier of the house, was looking on, occasionally attempting to hold her, but hopelessly intoxicated. It was found that the woman was suffering from a gunshot wound in the right thigh, and that her condition was very serious. She was immediately removed to the Melbourne Hospital, where she was received by Dr Thomas, who pronounced her to be in a very critical state. On the house being searched by Constable Gahan and Mr Marsdeu, two little children, sisters of the injured woman, were found asleep in bed, apparently not having been awakened by the disturbance. Before the woman was taken to the hospital she said, “ George Wilson did it.” On searching the house a doublebarrelled muzzle-loading fowling-piece was found in the passage, and on examination it was found that one barrel had been recently discharged, and that the other was loaded and capped. Constable Gahan then instituted a vigorous search for the man, and ultimately found him concealed beneath a fence separating the house from the one adjoining it. When arrested he was informed of the charge preferred against him. viz., that of shooting with intent to kill, and after being cautioned he said he had nothing to say. On being searched a number of percussion caps similar to the one upon the unexploded barrel, were found in his possession. The gun, it is said, betook to the house with him, and from the nature of the wound the weapon must have been fired point blank, and almost close to the woman’s bod} r . Mrs Perry, who was in a state of maniacal drunkenness, was also removed to the Fitzroy watchhousc, together with the two children found in the house. The affair created great excitement in the neighbourhood.

DOUBTFUL TALES. The insolvents who were examined in Melbourne on February Ist made some singular statements about the way in which they had lost several large sums of mono}’. In one case, a Mrs Charlotte Brown, a widow, residing at Richmond, received a. sum of £483 on a policy of insurance on her husband’s life. She placed this sum in a bank in Fitzroy, but drew it out after a day or two to pay the purchase money for an hotel at Hotham. She got into an omnibus at Richmond, with her baby and another child. She got out of the omnibus at the Post-office in Melbourne, and shortly after leaving it she discovered that she had lost a bag containing the £483, and has not since found it. In the other case a man named Michael Thornton, a general dealer residing in Simpson’-road, had a verdict given against him in the County Court for £6O, at the suit of a person named Teague. On the same day that the verdict was given, he drew £507 out of a bank at Richmond to pa}' some debts and buy some goods. But, as he said, after he came to Melbourne he got drunk and lost all his money. His manner of giving his evidence was so unsatisfactory that Judge Noel sent him to gaol for three days. Mrs Thornton, who was examined subsequently to her husband, said that he had lost large sums of money on two previous occasions.

F AT A L TII UN D EIISTO RM. On Feb. 3 a violent thunderstorm was experienced in Melbourne about noon, which was unfortunately attended with fatal results. About 1 o'clock, when the storm was at its height, a stoker at the Melbourne Gasworks named Henry Prott was passing Adderley and Uryburgh streets, West Mel bourne, when he was struck by lightning arm killed on the spot. The lightning tore off the sole of one hoot, and destroyed the man’s sock, but did not leave any other trace of its passage. A man was also struck in Swanston street, and for a time his limbs were paralysed, but he subsequently recovered. SALE OF THE ST. ALBANS YEARLINGS. There was a good attendance at St. Albans, on Jan. 27, to witness the disposal of the St. Albans yearlings, but the biddings were not so spirited as usual, and the average consequently was far below that of former \ r cars. Mr Wilson, however, had stated his determination to sell without reserve, and he kept his word. The following prices were realised : Guineas. Bay colt, by King of the Ring —ldalia ; Mr j. Brearly ... ICO Bay filly, by King of the Ring —Maid of Work ; Mr A. K. Finlay 210 Bay filly’ - , Iry King of the Ring —Musidora; Mr W. Long ... 210 Brown filly,by King of the Ring —Repartee ; Mr JJ. Smith... 210 Brown filly,by King of the Ring —Rescue ; Mr Hawkes ... 130 Total ... 950 Average, 150 guineas. MURDERED BY BLACKS. “ The fate of of Sub-inspector Dyas, of Normanton, who has been missing for some time past, has,” sa}’s the ‘‘Brisbane Courier, “ been now definitely cleared up by a telegram received b} r the acting commissioner of police. The dead bod3 r of the unfortunate officer was found by Sub-inspector Lamoud with a party of troopers who had gone out in search, about 40 miles up Rocky Creek. Mr Dyas had met his death at the hands of the blacks, and his body was pierced with spears in many places. His gun had been discharged, and it seemed probable that ho had beaten off his murderers, and died gradually from the exhaustion consequent on his wounds. During his last hours he had scratched ‘Dyas’ with a stick upon the earth whore he hiy, for the information of anyone who might find his body. The blacks had evidently returned after his death, as the body was laid in a shallow grave, and just covered over with earth. Mr Dyas had studiously endeavored to open friendly relations with the blacks about Normantou, aud was supposed to he a favorite with them, so that the treacherous outrage that brought him his death is very discouraging to those who are hoping for a better feeling between the two races. The police are endeavoring to follow up the murderers but the rainy season makes travelling a matter of difficulty, and the country is

too deep to allow the mounted troopers much advantage from their horses.”

A MYSTERY CLEARED UP,

On January 29 the dead body of a man named Shea, an old soldier, was found in one of the shire wells at Yalca, Victoria. He is supposed to have been murdered on January 22, since which time the body must have been in the well. The water of the well was used while the dead body was in it. The body was in a very advanced stage of decomposition. Dr Fitzgerald, who made the post mortem , is of opinion that death was caused by a fracture of the back of the skull with a blow from a stick. The person under suspicion is a well known criminal named Edward Smith, alias Long George. On January 22 the two were seen going in the. direction of a store, with the intention of getting liquor. Smith returned in about an hour, saying Shea bad gone without him ; but be was never seen alive again. The mounted police with black trackers are in pursuit of the suspected murderer.

(Per Wakatipu at Wellington.)

VICTORIA.

A number of Irishmen have sent a congratulatory telegram to Parnell. Walker lias definitely decided to contest the seat for Muldon, rendered vacant by Service’s retirement. NEW SOUTH WALES. The immigration agent has been instructed not to receive deposits on account of assisted immigrants, pending a consideration of the whole question by the Assembly. Excavations made have exposed the foundations of the great hall of the Town Hall to be of a disgraceful character. In some places the stones appear as if thrown into trenches, and there are open joints in the masonry. The Government ask £51,000 for the year’s immigration, being a decrease of £25,000 on last year. At Wilcanuia Evans brought to town 24ozs. of gold consisting of a nugget weighing 10ozs., a second of 2ozs., and the remainder coarse and nuggety. He states that himself and party obtained it in three days, at from two to six feet from the surface with dishes. The diggings are about two hundred miles from Wilcanuia. 35 miner’s rights have been issued.

News has been received of fresh finds in the Grey Ranges, but this requires authentication. Two coaches have left Wilcannia for,the diggings well filled.

A destructive hurricane at Levuka is reported. Two steamers sank in the harbor, and the town suffered severely.

QUEENSLAND

Parliament is further prorogued to March 29. .

An Afghan, having a female camel and a young camel, passed through the Pareo river. The Afghan spoke broken English, and it is understood that he found the camel in the bush. It is supposed to have belonged to the Burke and Wills expedition Skuthorpe up the present has not permitted a single person to see the Loitchardt records, or a single article which ho alleges ho has found. Skuthorpe left Biackal! on Jan. 24, and nobody seems to know anything of his whereabouts.

A hut keeper at Pituri Creek has been murdered by the blacks. The Malay, barque, iu ballast with nine men on board, was picked up off Mulgnivo Island, having been blown to leeward during a heavy gale, and drifted for 34 days. The crow has since been landed at Thursday Inland. It is reported that the Duke of Manchester intends purchasing some Queensland stations.