The Morning herald., 1878-04-06
Jealousy the Cause,
Her THROAT CUT WITH 4 RAZOR
AN ATTEMT AT SUICIDE

Last evening about half past nine O'Clock
the vicinity OF Brownton was thrown into
excitement at the report that a murder had
been committed, .,.,.. ,7 .,,
About $50 o'clock the three daughters OF
man named Thomas, came running into
neighbours house in fright, saying that
their father had killed their mother, an
had also killed himself. A number of cits
izaus assembled and with officer Brickle
they entered the house, and there a mos
'errible sight presented iself to their view.
In the second story front room Ca bed room
lay the dead body of Mrs. Thomas, with the
head almost cut from the body In pool Of
blood. The corpse was on the floor near
The bed directly IL front Of the door. In
the back room, sitting on chair, looking
on the corpse was Mr.. Thomas 9, the muir
derer with cash in bis neck. from which
the blood had formed in aiclotted mass on
his shirt bosom, and on the floor near by
were two razors, the weapons with which
the horrible deed was done
Thomas who was in his nightclothes, was
dressed and Immediately brought in wagon
to the police station where he now Is. Y
Dr. Ogle and Blocksom were summoned,
and 1t was found that the mans wiud-pipe
was cut by the cash. The wound was
dressed and the man will recover.
From conversation with the daugh ters
aged respectively, 13, 6 and 4 years, IT
seems that their father had been drinking
very hard for some time, and was of late Of
the habit of quarrelling with bis wife.
Thomas has been on spree for some time,
AMI had gone to work yesterday at Harlan
& Hollingsworth's yard, where he is en-
ployed in welding shafts, making very high
wages. ...
One Of the little girls said she was sleep.
ing with her mother, and on being awak-
ened she heard her father and mother quar-
relling. Her father left the room, saying
he was going to get razor and kill her
when she became so frightened that she
ran outof the house with her sisters.
One of the daughters said that their
father was either crazy or drunk, she didn't
know which. Nellie, another daughter,
on entering the house with the officer, said /,
pointing to brown jug, In the font room,
"There is the thing thae did It," 3G 1gH
Thomas, on being brought to the Hall,
said, uttering an oath, "Its only death, ="
meaning, no doubt, that he would himself
have to die for committing the crime.
+ Thomas is a man In very fair circum-
stances. He owned the two-story brick
house In which he lives, and some ground
He is about two hundred pounds in weight,
of m sdium heighth, while his wife is . very
small woman, Weighing only about one
hundred pounds. Thomas and his family
have not been long in this country, and,
from what be says, he has travelled nearly
all over the world. One of his daughters
being born 10 Australia.
The neighborhood was thrown, futo great
excitement and much sympathy for the
unfortunate children, who, 1t is said, have
no relatives In this country to care for them
The house was in a very neat condition, and
on entering the Kitchen, the tea pot was
still on the stove, and on chair nea r BY
was dough that had been set to raise. oaT
Coroner Rose was on hand and had the
body of the murdered woman removed te
the establishment of D. Fox, ct Sixth a,ad
Shipley streets. d ~ @'s3'.s @k83 "
An inquest will be held at 10 o'clock thil'
morning. .. -.., ,r..ra afr..,. .r.5,,. a,}
Jealousy is supposed to have been the
cause of the crime. The elder child says
her father came into the room tabotu $50
O'Clock, very much intoxicated, and began
to quarrel with his wife, Fe said she had
been going With other men, and he'wanted
her to tell him the truth. She declared
her innocence, but he seized her and drew
q razor, when the children went out. Whist
occurred between then and the arrival OF
neighbors can be imagined Some persons
ay that Mrs. Thoma, has beer, away from
hom for some days past, and has not been
able TO fullv account for har uherea houts