William Harrison

William Harrison was a mining investor in Redan,.

History
Harrison was a well known mining investor living in Redan. In June 1904 he was arrested after attempting to murder his wife, and then killing himself: "Attempted Murder. A BOMB outrage was perpetrated at Redan, near Ballarat, Victoria, early on Saturday morning. William Harrison a well-known mining prospector, had been living apart from his wife. At 10 o'clock on Friday night Mrs. Harrison and her daughter retired to bed. At midnight Mrs. Harrison heard someone moving about in the back yard, and upon going to investigate, saw smoke-issuing from a lighted fuse in the corner of the chimney. She caught hold of the fuse and drew a box in to the open and kicked it aside. Immediately there was terrific explosion, the noise of which could be heard two miles off. Fortunately the direction of the explosion was away from Mrs. Harrison, who sustained no injury. The police investigation showed that, fragments of a cigar-box with two dynamite caps alongside were 200 yards from the house, the missile having been blown right through the house, the contents of which were shattered. Suspicion rested on Harrison, who, when arrested, made a full confession. He said he used a cigar-box containing a dozen plugs of gelignite and four feet, of fuse, and four dynamite caps. After hearing the explosion he placed a dynamite cap in his mouth with the intention of blowing his own head off, but changed his mind. He said he knew what he was doing when he attempted to blow his wife up."