THE OTAKI TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2132, 25 May 1920, Page 1

THE OTAKI TRAGEDY.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST

The inquiry into (he double tragedy at Otaki, involving the murder of a young girl, Olive Me Kail, 17 years of age, by her lather, Thomas Gorst McFafl, and the suicide of the latter, was held at Otaki on Saturday, before the district Coroner, Mr W. C. Nation. Detective-Serge-ant Quirke, of Palmerston North, conducted the proceedings on behali of the police. Evidence was taken first concerning the deceased, Olive Me Full.

The first witness called was Louisa Jane Wylie, a married daughter of the deceased, Thomas Gorst MeFall, who stated that, with her two young children, she was on a visit to her people in Otaki. The Me!'all family had tea on Thursday at about six o'clock, when her father seemed to be in his normal condition. About 7 pan. witness’ sister, Olive, returned home, and a I forwards sat down and wrote a letter. Her father was reading ii paper, and witness a hook. About 8 pan. a vonnger sister, Dorothy, went to hod, leaving witness, her lather, ami Olive in the room. They remained there til! about !> o’clock, when Olive left to go to bed, occupying the same room as witness. Witness retired a few minutes later, her lather remaining in the dining room. W hen witness reached the bedroom Olive was there preparing to go to bed, when her father came up the passage and called Olivo, saying, “Are you in bed, Olive.” Olive replied “No,” and went out into the passage. Some conversation took place between them which witness could not distinguish, hut she recognised her father’s voice. Witness next heard ;I thud on tlie Hots- and Olive fell into the doorway of the bedroom, exclaiming, “Oh, dad, you have killed mo. ' A itness ran to her at on< t, and saw that she laid been wounded in the chest. She uttered no further sound. As whites.- was attending her sister, she heard another fall, and rushing out found her father lying at the entrance to his own bedroom. There was a-quantity of blood lying about the (lour. The whole occurrence did not occupy more than a minute. Witness called the younger hoys, who brought in a neighbour, Mr Walls, and he called the police. Alter Constable Satncrley arrived witness saw a bloodstained razor lying near her father. She knew of nothing that would occasion .her lather’s hostility towards Olive, and he did not show aitylaing unusual in his conduct on the da> in question. Olive was usually on good terms with her father, and there was no difference in iheir conduct towards each other that

To the Coroner: Whilst silling m the kitchen her father asked Olivo what she was writing about, and she replied that she had written “Nothing out of place.” The letter was put in a box in the bedroom. Dorothy Me Fall, another daughter, 15 years of age, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness ns to the general facts. Witness went to bed about 8 o’clock on Thursday evening, a younger sister nnd brother occupying the same room, the room being between those occupied by her father and Olive. Witness was awakened by Mrs Wylie calling her, and on coming to the door saw her father coming nut of the bathroom, which was lighted by candle. ’ As ho came out of the bathroom 'he called out to witness, “Good-bye.” This was repeated two -or three times. She thought it strange he should say “Good-bye instead of “Good night, which he usually said on retiring. She knew of no reason for the occurrence.

Dr. Sharp, of Olaki, said he made an examination of both bodies. Ihe girl’s injuries consisted oLa clearlyineised wound between the third and fourth left ribs, two inches from the breast bone. He explored the tracks of the wound with the knife (produced), which exactly 7 fitted the external wound, and the direction of the blow was made from the left side from above downwards and backwards and towards the centre. The tip of the blade would.then have entered the heart. The blow also .severed the third rib. The wound must have caused death from internal hemorrhage. Witness found another wound above the right shoulder blade, and the blade of the knife produced also fitted this wound. Both wounds could have been caused by the knife produced. The second wound was superficial only, and not the cause of death. It was possible for this wound to be self-in-dicted. The interior chest wound must have been caused by a blow of extreme violence.

Constable Batherley deposed to being called to Me Fall's at about 9.15 pan. on Thursday. On arrival be saw the body of Olive Mel'all, clothed in her nightdress, lying on the floor, near her bedroom. 11 itness detailed her injuries. He made

a search near the girl’s body for a weapon of any kind that (amid have caused the wounds, hut failed to find any. He saw the body of Thomas McFnll lying near the door of his ownToom, with his* throat cut. Witness searched (lie kitchen and found a, butcher’s knife (produced). It was lying on I lie table covered with a blood-stained rag. In the bathroom another such rag was found, which had evidently been used to wipe the knife. The kitchen cutlery drawer where the knife was kept was partly open. He found the razor (produced) near McFall’s body, the indications being that he had taken his life.

To the Coroner; He found nothing definite to account for the girl’s life

being taken. The verdict was that the girl, Olive Me Fall, met her death at the 'hands of her father-on May 20th by being fatally stabbed with a butcher’s knife.