The Invercargill Tragedy.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42742, 1 July 1905, Page 2

The Invercargill Tragedy.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. [By Telegraph—Press Association.] Invercargill, This Day. At the inquest on Mrs Swan, the medical men said accused seemed to bo quite rational when they examined him him afier the tragedy. Evidence was given to the effect that Swan made the fatal assault without the slightest warning or quarrel. The only words that the daughter Rlioda heard previously being a question by her father as to whether deceased intended to have a party before their son, who was going to England last Saturday, started Mrs Swan replied she “ had been think . ing it 5 why did he ask ? Rhoda did not hear her father reply. S ><>n after the accused rose and took a flatiron from the fire and struck deceased, who was sitting dining with her back to him, a terrific blow on the head, After his arrest Swan’s remarks to the police indicated he was jealous of Clark, a lodge’’, who was youngenough to be his wife’s son. Ihe evidence of all the members of the family was emphatically against such u statement. The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against, Swan, and commended Rhoda, aged 12 years, for her brave attempt to stay her father’s attack. The girl is in the hospital with a broken thumb and scalp wound, received in the struggle