SHOCKING MURDER BY A MOTHER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2453, 19 January 1893, Page 4

SHOCKING MURDER BY A MOTHER.

A shocking tragedy occurred at Balmain, N.S.W., between five and six o’clock on Monday morning, January 10, when a woman, named Mary Johnston, a widow, aged about forty years, killed her male child, who was about four months old. Since the child was born the unfortunate woman has shown symptoms of insanity, and this was intensified by the death of her husband, who a short time ago took part, in a tug-of-war at the Balmain Skating Rink, and strained himself so severely that ho was taken to the Sydney Hospital, where he died. Mrs Johnston was on the 25th December last arrested, where she was charged with being a person of unsound mind, and was remanded for a week. At the expiration of the time she was again remanded for seven days, and the child was taken to the Benevolent Asylum, She was only released a short time ago, and the child was again given into her charge. Early on Monday morning a woman named Elizabeth Gray went to the house, and was horrified to find the woman with her two knees on the unfortunate infant, and pulling viciously at its two cheeks, which were ripped down to the neck. The child’s tongue was also pulled from its roots and left protruding on one side of the cheek. Mrs Gray tried to pull her off, but she seized her by the throat and would have choked her had not her screams for assistance attracted the attention of a man named Tancred, who happened to be in the house at the time. He overpowered Mrs Johnston and held her down until the police arrived and took her into custody. The child was taken to the doctor, who pronounced life to. be extinct. At the inquest a verdict of wilful murder was returned against Mrs Johnston, and she was committed to take her trial at the Central Criminal Court on February 20,