SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1574, 8 July 1916, Page 3

SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

MAN ATTEMPTS TO MURDER WIFE AND CHILDREN.

THEN COMMITS SUICIDE,

ONE CHILD ,DEADj OTHERS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

Tauinarunui, July 0

Some time during the nighty a gruesome tragedy occurred at Kakahi, on the Main Trunk line, eleven miles south of Taumarnnui. A labourer named David Jeffrey, * aged thirty-nine, shot his wife witli a. pea-rifle and attempted to murder his six children: Gordon (aged one year), George (aged three), Neal (aged five), Jack (aged seven), Robbie (aged eight), and Thelma (aged nine). All were terribly knocked about, with fractured skulls. The infant Gordon died this morning, and it will be a miracle if all the others survive.

Jeffrey afterwards committed suicide by shooting himself in the month. The wife was shot in the forehead, hnt is still alive. Jeffrey left, a letter, which is in the hands of the police. Jealousy is supposed to have been the cause of the tragedy. Jeffrey only used the rille on himself. He was shot through the mouth. The evidence goes to show that the others were injured by the butt of the rifle.

Mrs Jeffrey made a statement today that on going to bed last night nothing oeeurred out of the ordinary. She was awakened in the night feeling ill, and vomited. She knew nothing more till she called her husband, and there was no response. When daylight came she saw the deceased bleeding from the mouth, but did not then realise the seriousness of the tragedy. The injured woman and the live children were removed to Tauma.runui Hospital. The eldest girl and one boy arc in a critical condition, and all the other eases are serious.

Later. At the inquest held yesterday, evidence was given by neighbours and Constable Maher, who stated that trouble had arisen between husband and wife over the latter dancing at a ball with a man named Clark, after the latter had been requested to leave the dance because of an alleged offence. The scandal had upset the husband. Jeffery was spoken of as a. man of good character but hasty tempered. A letter was found written by deceased. The inquest was adjourned sine die, in order to get Mrs Jeffery’s evidence when she is able to appear. The victims in the hospital are still unconscious, except the wife. There have been no further deaths.