Shocking Murder and Suicide.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 301, 21 May 1889, Page 4

Shocking Murder and Suicide.

A MAN SHOOTS HIS WIFE AND CHILD. ... , , Sydney, May 5. Allen s-terrace, Ultimo, was yesterday, about noon, the scene of a fearful tragedy, Ralph A. Manaban, a commercial traveller, shooting his wife and child dead and then committing suicide. Manaban, with his wife and child, came from Queensland about a year ago, and took up their residence with Mrs Moses, the mother of Mrs Manaban. They had been married some four years, and, as far as can be gathered, had never lived happily together. Recently quarrels had been frequent, Manaban having more than once been heard to threaten his wife, and, it is alleged, had attempted to take her life. He was also somewhat erratic in his habits, and at times failed to provide sufficient for their support. Two or three days ago he returned from Newcastle, and, so far as could be judged by the neighbors, the relations between husband and wife appeared to be as friendly as usual until yesterday morning, when quarrelling was renewed in the presence of Mrs Moses, the mother of Mrs Manaban, and the latter’s 5-year-old son, who was lying on the couch, sick from bronchitis. In the heatfof the quarrel Manaban rushed from the room, returning in a few minutes with a revolver, which he fired at his wife, who fell dead, with a groan. Mrs Moses rushed out of the room and upstairs, from where she heard several more shots fired. The terrified woman rushed on to the balcony, and her screams soon attracted a crowd, and a messenger was sent off for the police. On their arrival the door was found to locked, and had to be forced open. They were met by a ghastly spectacle. Immediately under the window lay the bodies of the husband and wife in a pool of blood, while blood and brains were sprinkled all over the walls. A few feet away, lying on a couch, with his head fearfully shattered, was the little boy, who breathed his last shortly after being discovered. An examina* tion showed Mrs Manaban to be dead. Her head showed three distinct bullet wounds, one in the forehead, one in the right temple and one in the right cheek. Manaban, near whom was found an empty six-chambered revolver, had a horrible jagged wound behind his right ear, where the bullet had penetrated. He still breathed, and was at once removed to the Sydney Hospital, and lingered till 1.30 o’clock.

An immense crowd soon gathered in the vicinity of the house, and the police had the greatest difficulty in preventing them from overrunning it. Manaban, whose age was 30, was of West India parentage. His wife, who was of English parentage, was aged 21. Jealousy is believed to have been the cause of the crime.

According to the evidence of a neighbor, a few minutes previous to the murder Manaban was fondling and kissing his sick child. The tenor of the letters found in the house by the police confirm the supposition that jealousy was the cause of the crime. One letter dated Newcastle, 18th April, from Manaban to his wife, is in reply to one received from her, in which it would appear she had accused him of some contemptible action, and he asks her to explain what she means and not accuse him falsely. Her letter, he says, has caused, him much pain. He also complains of not being able to earn much money. A second letter written, it has been ascertained, by Manaban just previous to the murder, and directed to a friend, says the writer intended to kill his wife, child and himself that day if he got a chance and saw them alone. He directs his friend to a mutual acquaintance for an explanation of the deed. Manaban also wrote to Mrs Moses, his wife’s mother, saying he was going to do the deed, and referred to Mrs Moses in very bitter terms.