SHOCKING DOUBLE MURDER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1679, 29 December 1887, Page 4

SHOCKING DOUBLE MURDER.

Melbourne, Dec. 21.

An atrocious double murder of wife and son was committed on Saturday morning at Yabba Yabba, a small place about twenty miles from Shepparton, in this colony. The murderer, who is now believed to have been insane, was Michael O'Shea, a farmer. The occurrence took place about seven o'clock in the morning. O'Shea took a single-barrelled Enfield rifle, withdrew the charge, and loaded it to make sure of carrying out his desire. He then shot his son, making a wound in his side large enough to put a man's fist in. Not satisfied with this, he then intended to beat him with the gun, but Mrs O'Shea interfered, The husband thea went into the house, and procuring a small sword stabbed her twice, A wound in the abdomen has since proved fatal. The son died at ten o'clock on Saturday morning. O'Shea, after committing the deed, changed his clothes and walked into Casbel township. The constable there had by this time gone oat to O'Shea's farm, but the latter found his wife, whom he asked to lock him np, and on his walking into the lock-up she turned the key in the door. Dr McKenna, who has examined O'Shea, s»ys he is of unsound mind. The wedded life of the O'Sheas was an exceedingly unhappy one, They were married in Ireland, where Patrick, the son, was born. O'Shea left his wife after repeatedly illtreating her. They afterwards lived together for three years, during which time another ebild was born, which died in infancy. After this Mrs O'Shea left her husband agaiD. O'Shea has been out here a long time, and six years ago Mrs O'Shea, her son Pat, and her sister also came out, During the voyage the sister died, and Mrs O'Shea received a good deal of money left by her, besides which she had means of her own. About three months ago the members of the family met, and O'Shea induced the other two to come and live with him, It seemß that he did not treat his wife in a manner pleasing to the son, and the latter wanted to tarn his father off the farm. The two had a quarrel on Friday, and the outcome was that on Saturday morning the murders were committed.