Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1866-09-22 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SHOCKING TRAGEDY.  A most plttful tragedy was enacted at North 'Fatal, on the evening of the 25th ultimo (says the Otago 7't ones).  • Alexander Orr, a stalwart and respectable young man, has for eight months been working as a labourer on the farm of Mr. John Cochrane, which is bounded on one side by an unformed road leading past the North Taieri School-house. In a newly-erected wooden cottage, standing about 400 yards from the road, and screened from it by the stack-yard, Orr lived with hie wife and their three young children. The eldest (Hobert) was just three years old ; Janet, who came next, was 21 months old; and the third was an infant, six weeks old. Mrs. Orr was but 26 years old; she was stout and good-looking ; she was noted as a careful housewife; she lived happily with her husband; and she joys.' in her children. The cottage is snug and was well provided. Mrs. (ire's last confinement was a trying one; but she got better after a week or ten days. On Saturday, the 16th ultimo, her husband called in Mr. Hugh Inglis, surgeon, East Taieri, who had before attended her. She was again not well, and she had been constantly somewhat dull or low-spirited, instead of in her usual cheerful temper. But there was nothing in her manner or her words to induce suspicion that her mind was affected. (hi the 25th ult., Orr left work about six o'clock, went home and had a hasty tea, and then started to I return a cart saddle which had been lent by a neigh. hour to Mr. Cochrane. The elder children were in their little bed near the fire-place; the infant lay in its parent's bed at the other end of the single apartment of which the cottage consists. Mrs. Orr was seated by the fire. In less than half an hour the Whited young fellow returned, and astonished to foil the door barred against him, he called and knocked at the door. He must have disturbed his wife in her terrible death-dealing. He no doubt, by his return, saved the life of his youngest born; but he did no more.  Iti sickening to think what had been done in his absence. The poor demented fond mother and cheerful but oerict housewife, had resolved to destroy her children and herself—but not to dirty the floor of her cottage! So she fetched in a deep tub and placed it midway between the two beds. She went to a carpet hag that hung behind the door, got her humbantl's razor from its cane, returned the Cane, and replaced the bag. Then she must have taken her eldest child from the bed, where he lay next the wall, and giving one sweep of the razor over the child's throat, she placed him head downwards in the tub. Next, she lifted the girl from the bed, and, in putting her hand under its head or neck- the probably did 11,4 disturb its sleep—she left a blood-print where her knuckles rested on the pillow. Little Janet found a place beside her brother in the tub ! Doubtless at this moment On's call startled the mad mother ; for it is not consistent with all that is known of murdere done by mothers under cuch circumstances, that the intended to leave her Infant to the trials and miseries of the world out of which she had resolved to despatch her other offspring and herself. At the instant she with one hand drew back the catch of the door, ehe must bare cut her own throat with the other.