DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 481, 18 June 1890, Page 6

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

A HUSBAND CUTS HIS WIFE'S THROAT AND ATTEMPTS SUICIDE. What seems to have been a case of attempted wife-murder, followed by an attempt at self-destruction, took place in Surry Hills, Sydney, shortly before midnight last Sunday week. While Constable Harland, of No. 2 Station, was patrolling Riley-streeb, he heard a woman screaming in the direction of Foveaux-street. He ab once hastened to Foveaux-street, when he saw three men struggling with a man who was saturated with blood. The man, whose name was William Saunders, was bleeding from a wound in the throat, and the constable, having temporarily stopped the flow of blood, speedily had him conveyed bo the Sydney Hospital, where he was admitted by Dr. Townley. On examination it was found that Saunders had a wound in his throat about two inches long, completely severing the windpipe. Mrs Saunders had also been brought to the hospital, suffering from two slight wounds in the throat, but fortunately they were not of such importance as to necessitate her detention in the hospital. Saunders was admitted for treatment, and now lies in a serious condition.

Inquiries were made by the police, and it was ascertained that Saunders, who is 26 years of age, a stonemason by trade, and resides at No. 102, Forveaux-sbreet, during a fit of frenzy, seized hold of a razor, rushed at his wife, brandished the weapon on her head, and threatened to murder her. A desperate struggle ensued between man and wife, when Saunders aimed two blows with the razor at his wife’s throat. She, however, managed to escape the grasp of her enraged husband, and rushed outside screaming “Murder.” Saunders then inflicted two deep gashes in his own throat, and followed his wife into the street, where he was caught by the three men above mentioned and held till the constable arrived. Mrs Saunders accounts for her husband’s act as being due to heavy drinking. He bad been suffering from delirium tremens of late, and frequently pravqd to God to relieve him from the horro' drink.