Shocking Tragedy-

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3852, 8 July 1891, Page 3

Shocking Tragedy-

Attempted Xfizide? and suicide. (By Telegraph.) [United-Press Association.] Ashbubton, Tuesday. A shocking tragedy occurred between 9 and 10 this morning. Albert Edward Moss, a well-known Christchurch cricketer, now a clerk here, assaulted his wife with a tomahawk, fracturing her skull, ana lacerating, her face and hands. He then cut bis own throat with a razor. 11 is thought there is a possibility of both recovering, though the injuries are frightful. It is supposed His mind is deranged by monetary troubles. Moss is the eldest son of Edward Moss, of Coolville, .Leicestershire, and was married on the Btb Ju e to Mary Emma, second daughter of the late Joseph Hall, Ardlem, Cheshire. Later.

Moss on his marriage obtained some furniture of a Christchurch dealer to the amount of £6O, payable by a certain date. The engagement was not met, and the veiidor obtained a judgment and put in an execution yesterday. The bailiff was withdraw n on Moss handing him two cheques drawn by his employers, Messis Friedlander Bros, payable to number, and given him to pay a railway account. He endeavoured to obtain a loan from several sources to repay the amount, celling one of them the circumstances, and saying that neither he nor his wife would be alive next morning. He tried to buy poisons, and also a revolver. he first partially stun--a tomahawk and then which she had just persuaded him to put aside, and eddeavoured to cut her throat, cutting the back of her neck and chin severely and lacerating both her hands in the attempt to ward off the attack. In the struggle she gained the door, screaming. He then gashed his own throat most horribly, severing the windpipe. -—He still lives, but it is almost impossible he can recover. The wife's injuries are confined to frightful scalp and flesh wounds, not dangerous. Moss was liked by everybody, including his employers. His friends, who had been made aware of his position, were on their way to square matters up when they met the messenger with the news of the affair. Moss had a severe attack of brain fever a few months ago, and undoubtedly his mind was unhinged at the time of the deed.