A BRUTAL OUTRAGE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3988, 14 December 1891, Page 2

A BRUTAL OUTRAGE.

Attempted Matricide-

A brutal murder was attempted at South Richmond recently. A young man named M'Kenna returned home drunk and found his mother preparing the evening meal. Without tbe slightest reason he prooeeded to abuse her in the most filthy language, and saying he did not believe ahe really was his mother. With a view of appeasing him, she tried to attract his attention to the tea table, and invited him to partake of the meal at once. His reply was to snatch up ut keen edged knife from the table, and she, fearless lest her undutiful off spring should really do her serious injury, ran into a bedroom and tried to shut the door behind her. He was too quick for her, and bursting in tbe door, he rushed at her saragely, grasping her i>y the throat with both hands, and forcing her down on the bed, shouted out; «' I will get rid of you, old woman \ there's a girl over in South y arra who will keep house for us |" He then took the knife and rapidly drew it across her throat. His mother shrieked ; "For God sake, my son, don't murder your poor mother." Uninfluenced by her pathetic appeal, he replied, ,( I will! I will do away with you so as to get'Curly'in to live with me." M'Kenna here dropped the knife, and saying he would go outside to get the axe with which to decapitate her, he ran down the passage through the kitchen into the back yard. With the tyqod pouring from the terrible gash, Mrs M'Kfiima threw up the front window and jumped into the street, calling loudly for help. She fell alongside the gutter, lapsing into insensibility, just as some neighbours, hearing her piteous appeals, ran to her assistance. She was conveyed to friendly shelter, and the wound staunched. During the interval M'Kenna was shrieking and yelling in the street, and predicting that he would be hanged for killing his mother. Word was forwarded to the police station, andiua few minutes three con stables arrived upon the scene, and they soon had M'Kenna handcuffed. He fought savagely, and-gave them a good deal of trouble, but quietened down upon reaching the watch house. Mrs M'Kenna was taken to the hospital, where it was found that the wound inflicted on her was nearly four inches in length by an inch in depth. vVith the application of a ljttle more force" the jugular vein would have been severed and she would have bled to death". 'After treatment she returned to her home, although afraid to do so till she had been as • sured that her son had been incarcerated in gaol and rendered incapable of doing her further harm, \ocuaed will"bebrmigbt before the Richmond Police Court this morningoy acharge of wounding with, intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.