THE CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 27 June 1901, Page 4

THE CHRISTCHURCH TRAGEDY.

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Cheistchubcit, This Day,

The neighbors became alarmed at not seeing anything of the Martin family, and informed the son-in-law of Mrs Martin, who on going to the house got no answer. He entered forcibly, and then saw the dead body of Mrs Martin. He at once gave information to the police, and Inspector Ellison went out at midnight. He found Mrs Martin's body, close to the bed with several deep wounds on the head. The little boy's head was terribly crushed. He had evidently been killed in his sleep. In the kitchen was another ghastly sight; the body of Miss Martin, covered with blood-stained sheets, being found. She was partly dressed, and had six gaping wounds on her head. The fore-finger of the right hand had also been cut right through. She had apparently put her hand to her head to ward off the blows.

The occupants of the house were Mrs Martin, widow of the late Henry Martin, farmer, the unmarried daughter (Ellen Martin), Lorimer Martin (son of G. H.. Martin), who lives in the district, and a man servant who McLean. McLean had been in the employ of Mrs Martin for some two months, and slept in one of the upper floor rooms. He was the only other occupant of the house. At present his whereabouts are uncertain. The house stands some distance back from the road, and is surrounded by trees. There are no neighbors near enough to hear any outcry by the victims. An inquest was opened to-day, but after the formal evidence of the identification of the bodies had been taken it was adjourned for a week. So far McLean has not been found, but a man answering to his description, and driving a horse aod trap, has been seen at Oxford, Waddington and other places in the district within the last day or two.