AUCKLAND TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2635, 4 December 1915, Page 6

AUCKLAND TRAGEDY.

WOMAN & CHfLD MURDERED ; A DELIBERATE AND SUDDEN i . ATTACK. (By Telcßrapli—Press Association.) Auckland, December 3. A ghastly tragedy occurred to-night, ( when a half-caste named George Gordon, a labourer by. occupation, murdered a single woman named Martha M'Kee, with whom he had been living : for eighteen months, and also their . child aged eight months. It appears that Gordon'attacked the child with the butt end of a hatchet, smashing its head.' He then attacked M'Kee with the hatchet, inflicting terrible injuries. Both died in the Hos- . pital shortly after admission. , The murderer then cut his own throat with ; a razor, and slashed his abdomen, inflicting a great wound. He lies in the Hospital in a dying condition. , There is every indication of a deliberate and suddon attack. Gordon and the woman lived in a room in Ho.bson Street, on the first floor, the room over- 1 looking the street. Nothing was known of the tragedy until a sister of M'Keo called, and found-.-the doors and Windows locked. There was another ; child, aged about 21 years, in the room, : apparently the child of Gordon's mar- ' riage, the whereabouts of his wife.being ■ •unknown. Gordon did'not attack this , child, and M'Kee's sister-succeeded, in getting her to push the key under the door, and thus gained admission. Very little is ; known of Gordon's • antecedents; he came to Auckland from Kihikihi some weeks ago. A letter addressed to his mother at Kihikihi refers to his intention to do something violent in a definite way to the children, who were left alone in the ■room. This morning, shortly after 11 o'clock, Gordon entered the house and went upstairs, and the landlord states till at lie did not see him aaain. The ■ woman M'Kee returned about three o'clock, and the landlord added that during the next -couple of hours the onlv sound from Gordon's room was as if the bed was being moved. There was no scream or sound of a struggle. Gordon is sinking rapidly.