A FAMILY TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1926, Page 2

A FAMILY TRAGEDY

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.} SYDNEY, July 11. An awful family tragedy is reported. It is surrounded in mystery. The victims are Mr and Mrs Nicholls and their two sons, Eric and Bruce. The family lived in a small wooden cottage. Flames from the cottage at three o’clock in tho morning awakened a neighbour. As the neighbour approached the fire lie heard two revolver shots. When help arrived, a bed, in which Eric Nicholls slept, was dragged from the verandah. He had a fearful gash on his head, and lie died in a few minutes.

A search, of . the ruins disclosed the bodies of the father, the motherland also the body of the lxiy Bruce. The body of the last named had a large wound in the skull, and all the bodies were so badly charred as to be almost unrecognisable. A tomahawk and a revolver were also found.

Nicholls was a. returned soldier. He Avxis in an advanced state of tuForculosis. Besides his pension he made a little from photography. He frequently complained of life not being worth living. . ! It is supposed that ill-health and depression' were the cause of the tragedy. July 11. The mysteary of the Nictiolls tragedy is deepened liy the fact that tho bodies of tho husband and wife are so charred that it is practically - impossible to distinguish them. .Near the remains of what is supposed to be the woman, were found a. revolver and a number of empty shells, and the indications are that she was fully dressed, while the husband was battered either purposely or by a faling beam. In the absence of conclusive evidence, the theory is mooted that the woman killed the others, and then shot herself.

It is reported that Nicholls the previous day purchased two tins of kerosene wherewith he sprinkled the house. Another theory is that the husband and wife, in desperation at their gloomy outlook on. the future, entered Into a death pact, of which the tragedy was the outcome.