Malicious Murder

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 19 June 1914, Page 5

Malicious Murder

A FATHER'S DREADFUL GRIME

COTTLE COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Received 18, 7.30 p.m. Sydney, June 18.

Cottle was committed for trial fo» maliciously murdering his two children. Evidence disclosed unhappy marital relations. Cottle was addicted to drink, and suspected and was jealous of his wife, s

.'A Sydney cable on May 13 said that after visiting friends with his wife and children, a man named George Cottle, 29 years of age, took his two sons, aged five, and three, respectively, for a walk A few minutes later the three were found in a back lane, the man with his throat cut, and his two children lying (lead beside him, their heads almost severed. Cottle was not expected to live. His wife was unable to give any cause 'for the tragedy, although her husband previously threatened to cnt her and the children's throats. A letter from a relative was found in his pocket upbraiding him for his treatment of his wife. It appears that while lying in the lane, awaiting the ambulance and unable to •peak, he wrote the following jerky sentences on scraps of paper:— "Man cnt my throat— love with wife —man kill me—fire two shots —miss me —grab my children's throats toil mine." After being taken to the hospital he raved all night about a "man with-a revolver and a razor." The latter was found in a timber yard near the scene -giiM.the tragedy.