Double Murder and Suicide.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3205, 15 May 1889, Page 2

Double Murder and Suicide.

• On the sth insti 1 a youn'g;siftn! named Ealph Manahan ;killej|his; wife and son, and then shot himself,? dying soon after.. The couplej'tffeii with the wife's mother, and had;b|en on bad terms for some • letter left by Manahan he mother-in-law, whom he blamedipr Ms unhappiness, and . while he was absent in Nsw Zealand; his wife and mother-in-lawmadeM by their conduct the talk offfowns-' villei where they were At the inquest the mother-in-law deposed that her son-in-law, had contributed sometimes to her daughter's support, say.J.l a month. He| deserted her for four, months, and went to New Zealand! On the'other hand, MrMaguire,'managing director of the Oceanic Publishing Company* in whose employ deceased was for six years, described him as a most 1 steady, hardworking fellow, and stated that Manahan did not neglect 1 his wife when he went to New Zea--1 land to canvass for the publication, 1 as he left with her an order to draw 1 £2 weekly. This sum was paid each ;'week to Mrs Manahan, and her 1 receipt was obtained. An additional 1 advance ot Ll9 was also paid, and , deducted from the commission 1 coming to deceased on an order 1 forwarded from New Zealand by the 1 husband, Before leaving Manahan , obtained an advance of £3O, £ls of • which was handed over to his wife, t and the remainder went to provide ) passage money &o. for the deceased. ) It is alleged that he always.spoke of ' his wife in moßt affectionate term's, 3 but referred to his mother-in-law as 3 the ourse of his marriod life.-Post

Special, v Manahan was well known in Masterton, whore he did business as a book agent.

Masterton Borough Council,

■ Ihe ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Counoil was held on Tuesday, May 14th. . Present—Crs : Her'on (Chairman), Perry, Oullen, Gapper, Chamberlain, Dixon, Hessey/ Mr H.E, Eton having made the usual declaration took his seat as Councillor. ..■'.. The minutes of the last ordinary and: gpeoial meetings were read and confirmed. . The Mayor at this stage entered the meeting room and took the oliair. . CORIIEBPONDENCE. A letter was read from L. J. Hooper, in reply to one from the Town Clerk stating that the Water Supply Committee did not acknowledge any responsibility for repairing water channels. ~ From W. G. Beard, threatening on behalf of E, MoEwen, an injunction re water nuisance. Worn Rev. .J. JloKenna, asking permission to construct a drain under the footpath for.tho passage of Btorm water. Granted.' E.H.Payne drew attention to a danger arising from the washing! away of the footpath near, the pound. Mr E. S. .Richards reported receipts of pound, £1 17b Bd.. The Town Clerk was instructed to convey a vote of thanks to Mr G, S. W. Dalrymple for supplying to the Library a copy of Ruskin's celebrated work on New Zealand. Mr H, Cole wrote asking the Council to take over a strip of land on Perry-street lor road purposes, The Counoil resolved to leave the matter in the hands of the Town Clerk to report upon at "the next meeting.

A writ was served on the Council by. the Wellington Benevolent Society, through Mr Skerritt, claiming immediate payment of the amount awarded by the Supreme Court.., : -; '.■;." Cr Chamberlain said the matter had come before the County Council that day, and it had been decided to call a meeting of delegates for Saturday. - - ■ '- j

Cr Heron said it would have been better to have paid the money in the first place, and thus saved expense. The Mayor said that the course followed out' was the only one that they could have adopted as an appeal against the injustice of the demand, No doubt they would have to pay in the long run, but the fact that one party raised tho money for others to spend wbb not right.' . .

It was resolved to let the matter stand oyer. HBNIOIPAL INSURANCE. A letter was read from the Sydenham Borough Counoil in reference to getting a Bill passed enabling Corporations to pledge their rates for insurance, purposes. It was resolved on the motion of the Mayor that the Council.would be willing to join in any well digested plan; ..'.,..' m WATERBOPPLy, .'... Cr Chamberlain, in reference to the nuisance complained of by Mr McEwen, slid the only jway out of the difficulty was to let the committee continue the channels to the .mill creek or for the Council to cut off the water supply.' CrGapper moved that the Insurance Committee be informed that unless the nuisance be abated the Works Committee be instructed to carry out the resolution passed at the last meeting. Crfloron seconded the motion,

The Mayor said it was a most serious thing for the- Council to do and he for one would not be a pavtj 'toil. •■"'• ■'." .'■•'"•

Cf Cullen said.it seemed bucu a pity ; that • for a mere question of detail there should be •such, a hitch. He believed Mr Hooperi who was in attendance, had. a, letter .from the Underwriters! if the; Council would hear it read. 1; ,.;,'.:,,.. :..■....,,., ~_ ' Mr Hooper said the lottorwaa not official, but he quoted from it;that the Association would support any movement 'to reduce rates, if the waterjwas carried through. •... ; '.'.', The Mayor, moved as an amendment that the sum of £5 be granted to put in' two hose boxes. '" ' ? ; : Cr -Heron said His Worship would have to-, give notice if he wanted t 0 ;

move ;: ment;::i;:7;; \'■■■';. ~l ; .. : ;Tlie Mayor. objection.. •,'■':• -y : J'S , Cr Dixon asked ; waß over the water MoEwen's The Mayor eaid it wag purely-. presentnork;; • \ ; : ;i..:.:*";^iS'^^^^H Cr Heron, ; distinctly -promised to' work- and he ought* :.,..The Mayor said■'■'that Councillors, including Crs.Heron Perry, had; out, ed Him fof treajrig up'the st and lis would leal'e them it. 7..: .?% . ;^^^H ; Cr Ferry, saidMMayor had trying, his best to :get 4 the ;.C6unoil m^^^H a trap, 'and'if'hofwould'aot: like a*^^B man and hand over to the Council a ', title to the water supply thero would 'be no'further, trouble.: ;■■'-; i;'f ;^j^H - After some further disoußSion i amendment v»as put and lost. } | The motion was then put wbMp _, | carried; ,ayes, Ors Chamberlaipp ' ' \ Hessey, Heron, Gapper, and Perry Knoes, Ors Dixon, Eton; Cullen, and ' ~-»C" ! the Mayor/. i;,; ;' ;i: -''■" '■- *' . HEPORTS,'. £) \ ' The Works and Finance.Comnittpr [: tees' reports a? published were read J and adopted. : - v?& :.'- ■': . i WIW ,; \ '■'■ <- ;; The clerk :was'instruoted-to give' ? notice to those in 'arrear.that if ■ outstanding rates wore not; at once ' paid, legal proceedings would be taken 3 for their recovery. , 1 '.-. On the motion of ■Or .Cullen, Or c Eton; was elected on the finance, ■""■' Works;" By-laws,.. and: • Sanitary V Committees, also to sign cheques. * It was resolved that no aotion be _ it taken bn.tbe part of tho Council with' 1 reference to bringing' into operation l' the by-law re covering buMugs with '■ inoombustible material.;:: , 'i The meeting then terminated. v : .■' ,;; ' ••■'-■■■■■■ ■