ANOTHER DREADFUL TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5186, 20 November 1895, Page 2

ANOTHER DREADFUL TRAGEDY.

A VICTORIAN BANK MANAGEIt'S CRIME, HE KILLS HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS. Received November IS, 8.30 p.m. Memiourxe, November 19, A dreadful tragedy is reported from Salo, about 125 miles from Melbourne. Short, Manager of the Branch of tlio Commercial Bank at Sale, blew his brains out this morning, having previously shot his wife aud cut the throats of his two children. The wifo is still living, but is in a precarious state. Received November 19, 10 p.m. Mei, bourne, November 19. Short did not display auy unusual state of mind prior to tbo tragedy, The members of tbo family were devoted to each other. Tbo wife was evidently asleep when she was shot. Two bullets passed clean through hor head. Tlio murderor then went into the room where the two children—girls, aged four and two years -were having breakfast, and attacked tliem with a knifo, almost severing their heads from their body.

Short was a member of a wellknown journalistic family in Victoria. One of the brothers is in a responsible position in the London office of the Melbourne Argus. The following letter was found in deceased's pocketl havo killed liny noble wife ami innocent children to save them from the effects of my ruin, I intended to blow my own brains out, but I cannot leave them alone to face the punishment for which lam wholly liable. God help my unfortunato relations." THE DEED PREMEDITATED. NO CAUSE ASSIGNED. Seeeieeil November 20,11.10 a.m. MelißOUrxe, November 20.

A peculiar feature of the tragedy is that Mrs Short had arranged with her sister to yisit her on Monday, but on Saturday the sister received a telegram asking lior to postpono hor visit till Tuesday. On Monday she got a note saying Mrs Short would expect to see her that day, and shortly after another telegram asking lier again to postpono her visit. Yesterday morning she received a letter dated Monday from Short, saying on no account must alio (the sister) pay hor visit, as a terrible blow was about to fall whioh would bo intensified if she were left a stranger, alone in Salo. Thetelegramsand note were signed by Mrs Short, but it is now apparent that the former were sont by Short and that he meditated tho tragedy for several days. So far as is known by tho Bank authorities Short's accounts are all right.