A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 594, 16 August 1913, Page 5

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

TRIPLE MURDri; li\ TAKANAKJ

I THE BODIES BURNED. A MADMAN'S ACT. lnglewcod, Thursday. A tragedy unparalleled in the history c£ New Zealand was enacted here in the early hours of thia morning when a farmer, his son and daughter, anil a carrier named F. Smith, from New Plymouth, were murdered while asleep, and the house set on fire afterward?. Edward Julian, a well-known settler, who held property at Urenui, and at the same time foreman of pub lie works in the locality, and brother to Mr Alf. Julian, resident engineer in the early days of the King Country, and row a prominent resident of Te Kuiti.

He'took up land at Rahotu, where he had lived for the past few years. Negotiations between Virgin and Julian arose from the exchange of thdir properties, and an agreement was arrived it that the deal should take place.

The transaction was one of a few months' standing, and a few days ago arrived at a climax when the exchange was agreed on. Everything was settled, both parties agreed on taking possession, which was fixed for yesterday. Julian with his son and two daughters, then went to the new house, while wife and two children were left at Oakura owing to the severity of the weather. THREE LEFT BEHIND.

Julian and his family duly arrived, finding Virgin, with whom the property had been exchanged, at home, everything showing psace and contentment at the new house.

The furniture and other accessories, including a piano, were delivered, and Virgin was most attentive giving assistance generally, as regards furniture put into the house. The piano was installed, and the two girls who accompanied their father, gave a musical evening in the new home.

Then all in the house retired to bed with the exception of Virgin, who was left reading in the kitchen. All his goods and chattels were removed prior to the arrival of the new owners, and were placed on a waggon. THE BOY'S STORY.

The first heard of anything wrong was by Julian's boy. He heard a man come into the room, who made a blow at him.

This rendered him temporarily unconscious.

He explains that his father and the driver, Smith, slept in the same bed, but he was on a couch. He heard blows beirg delivered on the adjoining bed, and knowing that they were aimed to kill, hid underneath the bed. The culprit returned to the bed which was occupied by Julian's father, and the lad heard thud after thud. He also heard the driver Smith say: "I'll get up! I'll get up!" IN THE GIRLS' ROOM. In his fright, the youngster stayed under the bed. Themaniac 'Pent into the room where Dorothy Ellen, aged 17, and her sister, Gladys Eva, aged 19 were sleeping. The intruder came into the room, and evidently thought he had dealt both a death blow. Dorothy wa? awakened from her stupor by a gurgling sound. She endeavoured to wake her sister up. but without result. Blood Was pouring from her mouth and nose. The next thing she knew was that the house was on fire. She pulled at her sister, who was dead, and after experiencing very stifling effecta she escapad outside and went to a neighbour's house. The younger brother, who got underneath the bed, also got out in safety. FINDING THE BODIES. The tragedy is hard to account for. Both men were respscted citizens. This morning tho charred remains of three bodies were found in the ashes of the house. Virgin's coat and have were found on the Manganui bridge. The generally-accepted theory h that the hat and coat were left on the bridge as a blind, ain settlers have [■oiled out in largo numbers to scour the river in which Virgin may have committed suicide. The bey who escaped is suffering iVom concussion of the brain, : whilst his :■::■!":■ is at present :-0 ! hysterical that no attempt can L>9 j made 'o cslochis' l iirr until the I doctor gives oermifir-ion. ' LETTER PROM VIRGIN. llawera, Thursday. ! At to-day's meeting of ihe Taranaki ; executive of th« Farmers' Union, a 1 letter was received from F. ,1. Vir- i i e.in, vesiiznimv his position as 'its j Mirer :md member of the eNoiuiivc. ' He suited that as he was a how! io i remove to Warea, 22 miles I rom

New Plymouth, it won 1< 1 1 ■ <mMM venicnt for him to atlcnd ; Ms/tytaSi and ho thanked nieintK i. ; Jor ness shown to him in (i;< !- ; ; i-T^y, VIRGIN NOT FOUND. ■ Inglcwood, Friday. Nothing further has transpired in connection with the Kaimata tragedy. Virgin is elill missing, but the police, assisted by local residents, aro engaged in dragging the Manganui river for his body. It is generally supposed that Virgin threw himself off the bridge The river being in flood alter recent heavy rain, is greatly hampering operations. VIRGIN'S CIRCUMSTANCES.

It is known that ever since the exchange of properties Virign had been dissatisfied with hia deal, and even went to the extent of offering Julian £SOO to cry the bargain off, an offer which was promptly refused. This appears to have preyed upon Virgin's mind, despite the fact that he is reputed to be a man who is worth £15,000. Virgin is described as an unassuming quiet man, a light drinker, but disposed to suffer from melancholia, He had always been looked upon as a thoroughlystraight man, but very hard in deal". "He would split the last penny," was how a neighbour described him.