TRAGEDY AT SORELL, TASMANIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 947, 18 July 1878, Page 2

TRAGEDY AT SORELL, TASMANIA.

This Hobarfc Town ' Mercury,' of May 14, reports : quiet locality of Bream desk, in the municipality of Sorell, has been startled by a tragedy of the most terrible character. A youth named Copping on Sunday killed a girl named Stacey, with whom he had been keeping compauy, by cutting her down witban axe, and then attempted suicide by shooting himself. The inquest on the body of the girl Stacey wis concluded on Monday night, and resulted in a verdict of ' wilful murder' against Richard Copping, j'un., who was committed, on the coroner's warrant, to take his trial at the next criminal sittings. In the absence of a report of the evidence, we art? at present only able to give the following additional particulars. The young" man, who is a son of Mr Patrick Copping (an old resident in the district), and the girl Stacey bad been keeping company, but Copping had become jealous, and harbored sin ill - feeling. On Sunday he went to her parents'house, where she was living, and there deliberately cut her down with an axe, death ensuing in a very short time. Without loss of time he returned home, and taking up a gun&eganto load it. Finding that there was no shot in the house, he obtained three nails, and dropped them into the barrel as a charge. His mother inquired what he was going to do, and he replied that there was a beast on the farm that he was determined to get rid of. He then went out, but not going in the direction he intimated, Mrs Cropping's suspicions appear to have been aroused, and she followed him. Two or three times she asked him what he was going to do do, but only received vague answers until at last he boldly told her that he had killed the girl, and was now about to shoot himself. Whether his mother endeavoirred to prevent him from carry JJg out his suicidal intention or not we cannot say ; but the young man when he got some distance from the house, placed the butt of the gun on the ground, with the barrel close to hi 3 mouth, and then pulled a string attached to the trigger. In some way the butt seemes to have slipped, and thus caused the gun to point in slanting direction, the charge entered more to the side of the head than it would have done. This saved (he young man's life, and frustrated his purpose. His jaw is very much shattered, and he is greatly disfigured ; but he will probably recover. The services of a medical man were obtained as soon as possible, and one of the nails was extracted from the side of the head. The circumstances show that a very cold-blooded and heartless murder hasbeencommitted, and oue that will be long remembered in the Sorell district. Miss Stacey bore an excellent character, and her untimely end has elicited expressions of sympathy for her bereaved relatives from all parts of the district. The prisoner Copping will be brought to Hobart Town as soon as possible, and lodge 4* in the Campbell street gaol awaiting bis trial. '

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