Two Children Murdered at Petone.

Manawatu Herald, 17 October 1899, Page 3

Two Children Murdered at Petone.

: — * About six o'clock on Saturday evening a man named Arthur R. Wolfe shot his two children and cut his throat. At seven o'clock Mrs Wolfe reached home from Wellington, and went indoors, little dreaming of she sight that awaited her. Passing along the passage to a bedroom occupied by herself and husband, the horrified woman saw the almost lifeless bodies "of her two offspring and their father stretched out on the floor, each in a huge pool of half-coagulated blood — the poor children unconsciously moaning as 'their life ebbed slowly away, and the father in complete silence. Half fainting with terror at the spectacle, the unfortunate mother made her way to the residence of Mr Carter, directly across the street, and indicated to him what had taken place. He immediately went to investigate the matter, followed by Mrs Wolfe, and quickly saw that the presence of a surgeon was an urgent necessity. Mr Carter immediately took Mrs Wolfe to his own house and communicated with the police. The doctors quickly saw that the children were beyond human aid, and forthwith devoted their attention to the man, who had a fearful gach in bis throat from a razor. Wolfe's wounds were stitched and bandaged in a short time, but while the doctors were engaged on the task the girl Linder expired. The boy was next attended to his head being washed and bound up. The little fellow and his father were then taken by the police to the Hospital, arriving there shortly before ten o'clock. It is supposed from the nature of the wounds that the determined man must have shot the children while they were in a standing position. The deed was committed with a six chamhered revolver, and only one shot was fired at each of the victims the bullet in both cases passing right through the skull. The body of Hector was found on the floor about six feet away from the bedside. Wolfe himself was half under the bed, with his legs stretched out towards the middle of the apartment, and between the two was the body of Linder — almost under the

window. Wolfe next tried to take his own life. He first attempted to shoot himself through the head, and if, his statement made in the Hospital is correct he discharged the remaining four barrels of the revolver with the Intentions But* the aim was^ bad. The wretched marl next seized a razor, which he drew straight across his throat, and though the windpipe was severed, and a number of veins cut, the arteries were not reached. When found by the police the blood stained razor was lying within a few inches of the man's hand. Wolfe, who is quite a young man — not more than thirty-five — was employed at the Flora Soap works. At the inquest held on Sunday the jury after a brief deliberation, returned" a verdict that Linder Warburton Wolfe and Hector Downs Wolfe met their deaths by revolver shots at the hands of their father, Arthur Reginald Wolfe.