A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2008, 8 December 1888, Page 3

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

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(PBB PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Gisbornk, December 7. The Australia, which arrived at the Bay last night, brought information that at Mfttamota •[moststrocloaa marderhasbeea committed, it is eoppfssd, on Wednesday evening. The victims are Frank Pook, storekeeper at Matamctu, his wife and oblid. They were found borrlbly.bntchered. Pook and wife were dead, but the child though mnoh mutilated is still alive. So far the particulars to hand do not state who was the first to arrive on the scene. Matsmotn is a small Native village a few miles north of the Walpero. Mr Wallls, J.P., visited tho Bpot shortly after the tragedy, and forwarded a report to Mr Booth, 8.M., by the Australia. Mr WalHa ttttes that Mr and Mrs Pook were found lying murdered In their stoic. Their bodies were behind the counter. The hatband had bio bead split open. The wonnd was evidently inflicted by an axe. The body tf Mrs Pook was lytag across that of her hnaband. Her head also was rplit open, and her throat out m auoh a manner that the head was nearly severed from the body. Pooka was also cut, showing that tho murderer was determined to accomplish his diabolical purpoae. Their son, aged seven was found man insensible condition, having received a fearful wound m ibe head. fie bad evidently been atruck with the lime Instrument with which the parents were killed. Mr Wallls bad the boy forwarded to Gisborne, and be wpb brought ashore at one this morning snd placed under DrPollen'ecire. Robbery whs evidently the motive of the murder. The cash In the p'aoe was taken away. Footprints and smears of blood were all over the place. The prem'ses had evidently been ransacked, for money and valuables. The murderer. It Is thought, had been purchasing good?, bb there was a bundle tied np on the counter, and a paper found with Kerns and prices of articles. Mr Pook bad apparently been making up the account. There does not appear to have been a struggle, as nothing was upset to apeak of. As Mr Pork was lying fall length on the floor, with his wife on the top of him, the husband was evidently killed first. It is supposed that while the murderer was cearcbing the house he came across the boy and Btruck him on the head with the axe. The boy's body was discovered lying on the floor, where he had apparently lain the whole night, fc'ergt. Hulere has taken charge of the premises. From the class of goods m the parcel there is good reason to believe that the perpetrator of the murder is a Maori. Pook had been to Tokomuau that day, having recently taken an hotel m that place. The same store was brofceu into by a Maori with an axe m March last, who was arrested for if, bat discharged owing to want of evidence. Mrs Pook frequently applied for protection, since as she has lived a good deal alone, and feared being murdered. Booth, Sergeant Bnllen, Dr PolleD, and the " Herald " representative started for^lhe ecene of the tragedy m the steamer Maitai this morning.