A DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1920, Page 2

A DOUBLE TRAGEDY

(per press association .-—-copyright.)

AIASTERTON, Sept. 10. A double tragedy occurred some time yesterday in Fernudge, near Alasterton, a little child being murdered, and the murderer subsequently committing suicide. It appears that the three year old son of Air and Mrs was last seen by the mother after lunch yes-t-erday, when lie went, oiit to a paddoc-li in which'a youth on the farm, Edward Hay, was working. Hay later returned to the house without the child. He was sent to look for the child, but came back without the boy. Shortly afterwards Hay disappeared, taking with him a gun belonging to MacKenzie. A search was at once instituted, and today the child was found dead having apparently been struck on the head with an axe. The body of Hay was found with a gunshot wound in the head.

further particulars.

A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. AIASTERTON, Sept .10. The mysterious disappearance of a child on . Thursday has developed into one of the most tragic affairs that have ever occurred “in the district, the child’s body having been'discovered in circumstances which point to its having been foully murdered, and the body of the supposed perpetrator of the outrage beng found in AVaingawa River with a gun by its side and the'head severely shattered. It appears that a. lad named Edward Hay, aged eighteen years was in the employment of Air George McKenzie, "on his farm at Farnridge, about six miles from Masterton. The lad had gone out to fill some hay-ricks for sheep, and the three-year old son of. Air and Airs McKenzieHad walked over to the ricks ,which were only a few hundred yards from the homestead. The‘hoy and child were seen playing together about 1.15 p.m. The boy Hay is said to have gone later about half arinile distant to feed a lamb. When Hay returned to the homestead about 1.30 p.m. the child was not with him, and McKenzie asked where he was. Hay stated that he had not seen him and was sent out to look for. him. Hay returned. a. short while afterwards and reported that he could not find the child. Airs McKenzie became alarmed and sent the boy out again to ]ook for the child. Hay went to the property pf a neighbour (Mrs Gorring) and asked if anything had been seen of Gavin (meaning the child). He was told that there had been nothing seen of him, and he returned to the homestead. Hay reported to Mrs AlcKenzie that he had been unable to find the child and said: “You call Gavin. He might answer.” Airs McKenzie went out and called but could get no answer. This was about two o’clock in the afternoon. On returning to the house Aire AlcKenzie found that the lad had disappeared and that a double barrelled gun which was ip. the front portion of the house wag missing. As neither the lad nor the child again appeared, Airs McKenzie became alarmed and communicated with the neighbours. A search- was made j and evntually a message was sent to the police in Alasterton. As night drew near the search party increased in number,, until about forty were engaged in an attempt to solve the mysterious problem. Neither lad nor infant child was found, although Hay’s coat was discovered, and the search Avas renewed at day-break on Friday. About 11 o’clock Stanley Dromgool announced that he had found the body of the lad Hay. The body Avas lying in water on the southern bank of the WaingaAva River, Avjth a shot-gun on top of it. A pieep of boojdacp wfis Attached to the trjggpr of fhe gu'n. - Ap r parently Hay had waded jnto the riyep before committing suicide, aqd had fallen back into the Avater. The body wps

- removed from the water and it was c found that the mouth and back of the . head were shattered, / It was evident therefore that the lad had placed the muzzle on the gun in his jfioutli find discharged it, with the assitance of his foot. No other marks of violence were » found upon the body, whieli was fully clothed. An examination of the gun showed that the right barrel had been 1 discharged and that the left was load- • ed. The search party then returned to t the homestead and resumed its search ; for the child. About mid-day the body I was found in a creek about two hundred yards from the homestead. It was > lying on its side in about eighteen inches of water, and was covered with loose gorse. The infant had beep frightfully mutilated, its head having been split open with a sharp instrn; ment. The wound was about four indies in length, but no other marks of violence were discovered. An axe was found in a creek about away froni the child’s body, and it is quito apparent that this was the weapon wjth which the deed was committed. Both bodies were removed to the house of Mrs McKenzie, where the inquest will be held on Saturday-morning by the District Coroner. The lad Hay, who appears to have been responsible for the outrage, had been employed in the district for several years. He had been an inmate of an industrial school and was licensed out. His parentage is some uncertain, though his father is supposed to have suicided.