STRANGE SUICIDE OF A CHILD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2745, 1 December 1894, Page 3

STRANGE SUICIDE OF A CHILD.

The Melbourne Age reports :—About eleven years ago Mrs Murray, of Heidelberg, took from the industrial school to board with her an orphan child named White. The two became much attached to one another, and the child has for some time been generally known as Miss Murray, for at the end of her term of residence at Heidelberg she was adopted by Mrs Murray. A couple of young girls, also from the industrial schools, have of late been boarding with the household, and one evening lately the adopted child and one of the later arrivals jumped out of their bedroom* window and went down a cross road to meet a lad with whom they had previously become acquainted. Later in the evening they were seen by Mr M‘Hugh, an elderly resident in the district, who reproved them, and before going off with the lad told the girls he would inform Mrs Murray of their conduct. To this Miss Murray replied that she had been doing no harm, and did not care what he told, or whom. Subsequently she saw Mr M‘Hugh’s daughter going towards their home, upon which she cried, “ Oh, I can’t go now; I’ll go and drown myself.” In company with her young companion she went to the bank of the Tarra, and, after asking that her prayer book might be placed in the coffin beside her plunged in. Running home, the child who had been with her told her story, and, the police having been informed, a search was made, which resulted in the mark of a foot being found in the mud near by where the frightened girl was last seen. Senior Constable Burton and others have dragged the river, but so far without success, and no other trace of the missing one has been found.