DOUBLE MURDER.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 372, 17 December 1898, Page 2

DOUBLE MURDER.

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—COPYRIGHT). Sydney, December 15. A tragedy happened at Petersham yesterday. A man named Briggs, aged 30, shot his fiance, named Dutt, aud her grandmother, named Miller, dead. The man has been arrested. Alter committing the murders Briggs hurried out of the house, and at a late hour was rescued uninjured in the harbour at Balmain, where lie had attempted to drown himself. When charged with murder, he said : " I did. It had been preying on my mind for some time that she had been false." A sister of Miss Dutt states that the murdered girl had been keeping company with Briggs for a considerable time. About a week ago they quarrelled. The grandmother refused to allow resumption of the courtship. The girl made an appointment to meet Briggs, but she failed to keep it, and it is surmised that Briggs went to the house for an explanation. Shortly after he was admitted two shots were heard, and Briggs rushed out. The grandmother (Mrs Miller) was shot through the forehead, and the Dntt in the back of the head. The murderer evidently fired point blank at the elderly lady as soon as he entered the room His fiance" then turned to flee. Miss Dutt was a public school teacher. Briggs was an expoliceman. During the inquest Briggs was violent, crying out "My love, my love, where are you." Although handcuffed it took four policemen to hold him. After the adjournment of the inquest he struggled and fought violently, and had to be carried to the police station. After committing the deed he tried to shoot himself before essaying drowniug.