SHOCKING DOUBLE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. Two Children's Throats Cut by Their Mother.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 320, 28 November 1888, Page 4

SHOCKING DOUBLE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. Two Children's Throats Cut by Their Mother.

A frightful tragedy occurred at a place known as Ked (linn Flat, Dawson, on the Heyfield railway line. Victoria. A woman named Doyle deliberately cut the throats of two of her children, killing 1 them, and then ablemptedsuicide by cutting her own throat. The unfortunate woman's husband died in last Augu&fc, siuee which time &he has been I observed to be in depressed spirits ; but there was no .suspicion of insanity. Jt would appear that the woman, who has tivo children, retired to rest on Sunday nightwithtwoofthem, one named Catherine, 11 years of age ; the other, John, aged only 9 months. Another bed in the room was occupied by a younp woman named Heed, 18 yeans of age, a neighbour, staying there for the night. In another room were 3 other children and the brother and sister of Mr.-. "Doyle, the lattfer of whom is blind. The deed must have been noiselessly accomplished, for none of these were awakened. Even the jrirl Reed heard no disturbance, save a slight noi<?e about daybreak, which woke her. She then saw the children lying with their throats cut, and their mother bundled in a corner of the room, bleeding from a frightful wound in the throal. Reed at once rushed out of the house, and alarmed a neighbour named Parker, who went into Hey field and reported the matter to the police. Constable Cox and Mr Marshall, J.P., immediately proceeded to the place, where they found the childi en quite dead, but M rs Doyle breathing. The deed was committed by means of two ordinary table knives. A doctor was telegraphed for, and ultimately Mrs Doyle was driven to the Gippsland hospital at Sale, where she remains under the care of Dr. McLean. Airs Doyle is about 35 yeard of age, and was considered a quiet, respectable woman. As previously stated she had been despondent, and had been known to express an opinion that she would die from the same complaint as her husband.

" I'm .a;Uid i to see you in the Sunday-school at lasjb. Is this your firi-jb Sunday f ' " Yes, em!' . ",Ho,w do yo_u like it?" "Oh! 1 guess I cau stand it until after the Christmas tree,"