SHOCKING TRAGEDY. Murder and Suicide. (BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1552, 15 June 1882, Page 2

SHOCKING TRAGEDY. Murder and Suicide. (BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Ciiki&tciiurcti, Monday. A ghastly crime is reported from the timber district of Oxford, some thirty miles north-east of Christchurch. The particulars, so far as they are known, are given in one of the evening papers, as follows : — "This morning, at about 8.15, soon after the gang of platelayers of the Oxford branch had commenced work, and whilst two men named Packentz and Home were laying a sleeper on the trolley, another of the gang named John Greenfield, who was standing behind with an adze in his hand, suddenly lifted the adze, and said to John Home, who was helping to load the trolly, ' You b , I will do for you,' and struck him with the adze behind the ear, the blade of the adze running across the neck, and penetrating it to a depth of two inches, and half severing the head from the body. The foreman of the gang, Packentz, said, 'John what are you doing, man,' whereupon Greenfield rushed upon the ganger, and said, 'You b , I will do for you too. " Packentz ran away, and the mmdeier followed him for a considerable distance, when P.ickcntz suddenly turned upon him, and seized him, and in doing &o received a blow, which the murderer aimed at him, on the side of the head, but fortunately only with the handle of the adze. Packentz seized the adze, and wrenched ib from the murderer, who then ran away across the field, on the opposite side of the main road, and was afterwards found by Police-Sergeant Scott lying down in a furrow, with his face in the water. When turned over he was found to be quite dead. Home had lived a long time at Oxford, and during the greater part of the time had been employed on the railways. He has a wife and a family of seven children. He has been a steady and careful man, and has acquired some property. Greenfield has not been long in the district, and he leaves a wife and four children, the youngest of which i& about six weeks old. From the position of the cut it must have been given whilst Home was stooping at the tiolley with his back towards the murderer, the blow being given over the left shoulder. The whole width of the adze, which is au ordinary carpenter's one, penetrated the neck, and almost severed the head from the body. Police-Sergeant Scott was quickly on the spot, and both the bodies were laid at the Oxford Hotel on beds, side by side, by half-past 10 o'clock. The murder took place near Salvation Hall. Tuesday. At the Oxford inqxiest, one of the witnesses said a sudden change had been remarked in Greenfields conduct during the last few days, ' which none of his mates could explain. The verdict was insanity on Greenfields part. Nothing else new was elicited.

Mr James La Trobe, jun., has been appointed rate collector foi the Whaingaroa Highway District. Mr A. G. Hughes, The Pharmacy, Cambridge, notifies that ho has received per ship Remington, from London, a. large assortment of all sorts ot goods in his line. Mr Gwyoneth, C.E., invites tenders for repairs to bridge at Walker's Gully. <Mr J. P. Thompson has been appointed clerk, treasurer and collector to the Cambridge Town Board. Dr Cushny notifies that he may be consulted at his residence, Mr Schofield's, Dukestreet, Cambridge, where all messages for him should be left. Mr W. Cowley, Tamahere, offers a reward for the recovery of - a strayed marc. The new pure cash system now being initiated by Q. and C. will certainly prove a benefit to, the public It has been a great success in Sydney and Melbourne, and when strictly carried out the customer who buys at an establishment where the goods are marked low to ensure a rapid sale must bo a great gainer. G. and C. sell their dr"apery, millinery, and clothing at such prices for cash as gives the buyer the advantages of a shareholder in a co-operative society; without the risk of being called upon to bear a portion of the loss should the sear's business prove unsatisfactory. G'arlick and Cranwell will aim •to retain the confidence which the public have hitherto shown them, and are determined to . give the pure cash system a ■fair trial; whether thejrgainor'lose the first year Country buyers on remitting cash withordet will be' supplied with goods at co-operatve prices ; just the same as though they made apefsonalselection.' Furnishing goods, such as carpets, floor cloths, bedsteads, .bedding 'and general house furniture;, the largest portion of which is turned out at ouirown. factory, willbe marked at the lowest remunerative prices, and a discount of five net cent, will be allowed to tho'ae_wh<s pay.at the time bf;pufchase. ,. G. and C. having realised 'the'enlire'.ValSe.of jtheir stqck .durii4g ; their 'lat*, .claslrssile, the'pß»entistock is new At#-c«feApLy;, ißOlJGaT.^An,inspectidaHnvited,— Garlickand jGranweix, CifSyUall Furnishing; ArcadfeQueen'treettAuckland, , - :->~ 7 ' V *? '--•