MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9418, 15 June 1882, Page 1

MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Chbtstchttkch, June 12. A 'ghastly crime is reported from the timber district of, Oxford, some 30 mi!.e3 north-west .of Chrislchurch. This morning at about S 15, soon after the gang of platelayers of the Oxford branch hud commenced work, and whits; two men named Packnetz and Home wero placing a sleeper on the trolly, another of the gang named John Greenfield, who was standing behind with an adze in his] hand, suddenly lifted the adze and said to John "i iorne, who was helping to load the trolly, " You b ,*I will| do for you," and struck him with the adze behind the ear, the blade of the adze running across the neckfand penetrating iu to a depth of 2£in with the corner, and half severing, the head from the body. Daly, one of the gang, 'said '' what have you done?" whereupon Greenfield rushed upon linn and said,' " You b . I wir. go for you, too." Daly ran away, and the murderer followed him for about twenty-four yai'ds, J whenDa]y suddenlyturned upon him and seized him, and in doing so received a blow which the murderer aimed at him on the side of the head,. but fortu uately only with the handle of the'<adze Daly then seized the adze-and wrenched if; from Greenfield, who ran away across .a field on the opposite side of the main road, and was afterwards found by Sergeant Scott lying down in a furrow where was only a small quantity of water BJ-m deep. He was stretched at full length in the furrow with his face in the water. When turned he was •quite dead. ITorno had lived along time in Oxford, and during the greater part of the ..time has been employed on the luihvay. , He leavCi a wife aud■ family of ! 10 children. He lias been a steudy ; and careful man, and has acquired u prope-iy of 8) acres' of land. Greenfield has -ot been long i a the district and Laves a wife and four c': 1 rjn, the I youngest oc wliic* is :\.b;>i\i six wjjki old tier.out Scott was qui.-kly on the spot, and both bodies were laid ut the Oxford Hotel or: bedj side by »id e by half-paM ten o'clock. The murder ;o;k plaej nearStar:ation Hill. June 13. At the inquest at Oxfoul one of. the witnesses said a sudden change had been remarked in Greenfield's conduct during the last few days, which none c-f his mates could explain, i The verdict "one of "Insanity" ou Greenfield's part. - .