SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1922, Page 3

SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

j FOUR KILLED, MORE INJURED. r | AUSTRALIAN ANI) N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. 1 .MELBOURNE, August 14. | J One of the most shocking tragedies in the history of Melbourne, resulting in four deaths and others being injured , i lias been discovered at the residence of Doetou Urn listen n, at Hampton. I A patient went to consult the doctor, : I but failed to obtain any reply to a 1 ring at the door hell, and hearing the l i telephone ringing inside, the patient I . became suspicious that something was [ wrong He peered through the lettei ' slit in the door, and saw a man lying ; in the passage. I Assistance was then obtained, and an 1 entry was forced, tt was then found j , that the mail lying in the passage was 1 the do, tor. He was dressed in his ! pyjamas, and was unconscious, having ; apparently emerged from tho bathroom < and collapsed. I a search of the house resulted in the i finding of four dead bodies. They were those of the doctor’s three sons: | John, aged 15Robert aged 10; and ( Colin aged 8; and also tho body o| a . young women, Gladys Baylis. I Then Mrs Cranstoiin. and the doctor’s I two other young children, Margaret | (aged 13). and Bella (aged 6) were , found unconscious. I The doctor, his wife and the two | girls were removed to the hospital. . They an* expected to recover. , At present nothing is known of tho circumstances that led up lo the trag- , ody, but in all tho cases, it is believed i the victims were subjected to morphia , injeotums When found, the doctor ] had a hvpodeunie syringe lying he- j side him. The body of John was found lying en the hoarthriTg in the drawing room. Robert and Colin were in separate beds upstairs, and Miss Ravlis who bad acted as companion t«. Mrs , Cranstoiin, was on a hod downstairs. The t" o girls and the mother were also in lied

rr'RTTTKK parttorlars. , A AIOPPFTTA FIRTH). j 'Received this dny at 10.15 a.m.) MK'bRORRNF. Anßiiat 15. : ; Or Crnnstoun died in the afternoon, j Jfo light !uis so far been thrown on | the cense of tragedy. The baker ■ celled before hreekfest end Miss Hindis 'i said: ‘ T don’t think we want en,v i bread to-day.” She appeared strange. ' School rent cs of the children were in ; the habit of calling and were informed | they were too sick to go to school, j Doctor Leary says no doubt morphia ! wes the cause of death. He knew ! Ornnstc tin for two years and has never j met a more charming personality. He , ! is believed to be a confirmed drug fiend i and probably was suffering from a de- ; '• fusion as a result of morphia. which might explain the tragedy. He also ; knew Crnnstoun was in financial diffi- : eulties, mainly through betting. Two 1 years ago he treated Crnnstoun for an over, injection of morphia. Ho was un- ; conscious sixteen hours and grave . | doubts were then entertained of his r ' coverv. !