SHOCKING DEATH OF A FATHER. Sydney.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 224, 15 October 1887, Page 2

SHOCKING DEATH OF A FATHER. Sydney.

A very «&d occurrence is reported £r.omj! DijmJUquin. "Mr Pftfetick Slaman, an <<Ml And highly A'espected draper of the town, died on Tuesday night, under very painful; circumstances. On T-ussday evening, Mn, Slaman, who was in ,vQiy good health and j spirits, received abpitf, six o'clopk an ' anonymous letter by conveying to \ Mm the iatejligence lhat his eldestdaughter, a gu*l about ttwenty years of age, was enceinte, and that a certain Boraan Catholic priest, w;hs> had lately left ! Deniliquin, was her seducer and the father of the child. Th# letter came like a thunderbolt to Sl&man, as it was tho first intimation •tSiat he had received of the unfortunate .affair. He immediately interviewed the family, and his daughter confessed that tho statement "was true. Slaman then became fearfully «xcited, and went out to an hotel, where \ he had some brandy. Ho returned shortly afterwards with some of the spirits in a lemonade bottle, which he swallowed in the presence of his daughter. The deceased then wished his family good-bye, land left his house in a very excited state. He then went to several hotels and had fiome more liquor, and stated that he was 3g#ing on a very long journey. He afterwards arrived at the Terminus Hotel, ■where he was refused liquor, but going behind the bar he swallowed some brandy oufe of a decanter, and 'then became very violent and excited, and shortly -afterwards he fell down in the' veraondahj where he died about an hour afterwards, his Jast words being with' reference to his daughter. The deceased's' cteughter has stated that the priest) seduced her by moans of administration of

drugs, and that ho afterwards compelled her to submit to him. A day or two prior to tho death of Slaman, the priest, who has since left the church, wrote to the j girl and asked her to marry him, enclosing money to pay her travelling expenses to Melbourne. Tho priest left the district abortfl three months ago, when a testimonial and a puree^of 150 sovereigns was presented to, him ; .Slaman, who was a' leading man in the Miian Catholio Chwcb,, . ' being the primo mover in the testimonial, and altso the principal subscriber. The priest stated that when he left hero that it was his intention to visit Ireland on twelve months' leave ot absonco, but he is believed to be stiil in Melbourne, and is said to bo in disgsase, and under .an assumed name.

A Hoavy Fine A fine of £1,000 "was inflicted on James Kelly, convicted at the August sittings of tho Criminal Cowrb of defrauding the Customs. The accused was tho manager for Schuhkraffb and Co., of Flinders street, and is a man of about sixty-five years of age. Somo points of law had been reserved in his favour for the full Court, but at the last moment they were withdrawn at his own request. The utmost ho could have gained, as he was advised, was a new tnal, i but his health would not stand the strain. Evidence -as to character was given, and medical testimony was also adduced to the eilect that if he were imprisoned for any term his 'health had already been broken up to such an extent that it would either kill him or drive him to insanity. Justice Kerford then directed him to pay a hue of £100 on each of tho ten counts on which he had 'been convicted. A cheque for the amount was at once forthcoming, and having been cashed, the accused was discharged. _