ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2225, 9 July 1891, Page 3

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.

A shocking tragedy was perpetrated between 9 and 10 o’clock last Tuesday at Ashburton. Albert

Edward Moss, a wellknown Christchurch cricketer, now clerk to Friedlauder Bros, assulted his wife with a tomahawk, fracturing her skull, lacerating her face and hands, and then cut his own throat with a razor. It is thought there is a possibility of both recovering, though there injures are frightful. It is supposed his mind has become deranged by monetary troubles. Moss is the eldest son of Edward Moss, of Coalville, Leicestershire, and was married on June Bth to Mary Emma second daughter of the late Joseph Hall, of Andlem, Cheshire. He is aged 26, and appro-

priated his employers’ cheques to pay out an execution, and being unable to borrow money to replace it, said that neither he nor his wife would be alive in the morning. He endeavoured to buy poison and a revolver and being unsuccessful assailed his wife with a tomahawk partially stunning her.

Then he used a razor to her and himself, effecting frightful injuries. He had brain fever severely a few mouths’ ago, and was undoubtedly insane at the time of the tragedy. He is still living, but his recovery is almost

impossible. His windpipe is completely severed. The wife’s injuries are deep scalp wounds with a tomahawk, and razor cuts on the neck and both hands are fearfully cut with the razor, but the wounds are not dangerous. ,

BURTHBR PATICULARS.

Mrs Moss was seen by a neighbor rushing round her house, with her face and head smothered in b'ood, which was pouring from some ugly gashes on the left side of her head and about the face. Mr C. M Brooke, chemist, then came by, and others quickly collecting they also entered the house. Avhile Dr Tweed, was speedly at the scene of the tragedy. Meanwhile Mrs Moss had been taken across to the Somerset Hotel, where the doctor immediately attended her and bound up the wounds in her head; face, neck, and hands: Dr Tweed then went back to give his attention to Mr Moss, who had been reported to him as lying dead. When the doctor turned the apparently lifeless form over he found the throat had been cut almost from ear to ear Avith the larynx separated from the trachea, the AAdndpipe being laid bare. The poor felloAV Avas lying in a great pool of blood, but was still breathing, and had strength enough to point to his trousers pocket, in Avhich Avas a letter addressed to Mr Hugo Friedlander. the purport of Avhich Avas that he (Moss) had lost £lB5 through someone swingling him. He Avas put into Mr Dailey’s express, and on his Avay to the Hospital asked for paper and pencil, and afterwards Avrote on the side of the vehicle, “ AVliere is my Avife ? Robbed, SAvindled a man SAvindled me. I have lost all my money— £lßs man—SAvindled—hoAv is my Avife—SAvindled,” At the Hospital Mrs Moss said she had noticed a strangeness in her husband’s manner for some days past, and more especially that morning. He asked her if she had any money, and she gave him her purse. He Avent out, and on coming back again said he Avould shave. He aftenvards expressed a Avish to shave her, but she got him to put the razor in its case. Aftenvards he took a tomahaAvk and broke up some coal, and then tried to get behind her. She became frightened, but kept her husband in front of her. He then struck her two bloAVs on the head Avith the tomahaAvk, and she fell; -diile she Avas getting up her husband too. ou t the razor, and in a struggle that sue d inflicted other Avounds on her, and+ugjj b e g an to hack aAvay at his OAvn when she managed to run out into street for assistance. He is the eldest „ on Ldward Moss, of Coalvihv Leicestershire. England, and came tc New Zealand about tAvo years ago. M*, j\p oss i s a daughter of the late Mr Hall Anldem, Cheshire, and she to Christnhurch quite recently to 'V arrv Mr Moss, to Avhom she Avas engage They Avere attended at the hospital by Dr Trevor, the hospital Surgeon, and Dr TAveed. Mrs Moss Avounds are not likely to prove fatal, but there is little chance of Mr Moss recovering from his self-inflicted Avounds.