MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2376, 30 June 1892, Page 3

MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Svijmey, June 21

A man named Richard Austin, employed in Messrs Anthony Horden’s stables at Redfern, attempted to murder his wife and commit suicide to night. Eighteen months ago Austin and his wife arrived in Sydney from New Zealand. They lived together a little while, and then separated, the wife saying that her husband was a devil in the house, though quiet outside. Three weeks ago the woman, under the name of Joy Malcolm, completed arrangements for board and lodging for herself at 112 Albion street, Surrey Hills, a locality of bad repute. She went to live at the place, and occasionally received visits from Austin. Yesterday he called at the house, and finding the woman out, left a message making an appointment to meet her at lunch time yesterday. The woman foiled to keep the appointment, and Austin called at the house last evening and found her at home. She consented to go out for a walk with him, and the pair ivere seen to go down Albion street to Belcher Park. About twenty minutes later Austin was seen chasing his companion along the street. The woman shrieked out to a young girl who was passing, “ Save me ! ” Austin called out loudly, “ I will catch you yet,” and then fired a revolver at the woman, but missed. The woman ran towards the house where she lived, Austin pursuing her. Within twenty yards of the house Austin caught her by the hair and shot her in the head, following this up with another shot, both taking effeet. The woman fell into the gutter, Austin took half-a-dozen steps on tiie roadway and fired at his own head, the bullet entering his neck. Both were taken to the Sydney Hospital in an unconscious condition. The man was found to be more seriously hurt than the woman. At one o’clock this morning the man was still unconscious, but the woman was coming to. It is doubtful, however, whether either will recover. Jealousy is supposed to be the motive of the crime. Austin is twenty-four, and his wife twenty-two years of age. [A late cablegram statedt hat both died.]