DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4039, 16 February 1892, Page 2

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

Hurler and Sniol&s.

A terrible tragedy was enacted at Yalca North, oearNathalia (Yiotoria) on Tuesday last, a farmer named John Brown murdering his brother Robert Brown, and then committing suicide, It appears that for some time past the brothers had not been on good terms with each other, John being jealous of Robert having a good farm, which ho had selected

and worked very hard to keep out of debt. John hod been loafing on his ] brother for a number of years, and Robert was desirous of getting him ; away, as lie wa3 going to be married , shortly. Kobert found that it was ( impossible to get rid of his brother , so he determined to sell his farm, and : placed it in the hands of one of the local auctioneers for that purpose. John then promised to leave if Robert would not sell the farm, but he would not do that, and after some days, during which they did not speak to each other, John took up a double-barrelled breech-loading gun and shot his brother in the back while he was eating his breakfast, A laboring man named Weatherill, in the employ of Robert Brown, heard the shot, and came to see what was the matter. John explained that the gun went off accidentally, but the brother indignantly denied this, and said that John had shot him purposely. Weatkerill placed the wounded man on his bed, ami the latter then ordered Weatherill io take the gun away from John, who threatened his life if he attempted to do so. Weatherill theu wont for some neighbours, and afterwards got a horse to go for a doctor, When the neighbours were returning they heard two moro shotv and as the door was ...shut, they were afraid to venture further, so one of them went for some friends, while the other kept watch from a distance. Dr Ellison arrived before the police, but could not gain, admittance, and shortly afterwards Constable Murcutt atrived, and broke in the door. He found the body of John Brown lying aoross a bed on his left hand with a gun across his left foot, A piece of string was tied to the trigger of the gun, and the other end was around his large toe. In another room the body of Robert Brown was found lying in his bed, where ho had been placed by the laborer before he had gone for the police. There was a wound on the face under the right eve caused by a shot which had apparently been fired from the door of the room adjoining.