THE MAROHEMO TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2229, 20 January 1921, Page 2

THE MAROHEMO TRAGEDY.

FURTHER DETAILS. -~W Maiuignturoto, Jan. 17. When the news* of the tragedy at Marohemo yesterday was received Bong was temporarily out of the district, and Dr. Dukes was communicated with, ,-tmd lie shortly arrived on the scene wmm Nurse Campbell, from the Pnpntoa Hospital. On arriving they foundthe hoy lying on the Door with his head-anil face smashed almost past recognition, and Needham, with his throat cut, but living. It was necessary to put 10 stitches in Needham’s neck.

Needham,‘bis son and daughter, were separating the morning’s milk, and the boy and girl were skylarking and annoying the father. He accidentally tripped the boy.when passing. The boy turned and made a face, and, according to the father, used bad language. The father then struck him with a dairy broom. The boy fell, and the fathcV struck him while on the ground ,t----bout nine times until he was dead, and then went for a razor and out his throat. ‘ The wound was severe, but not -fatill,‘so lie got a rope to hang himself, but . was prevented from doing this by the arrival ol neighbours, who restrained him until the arrival of the doctor. Needham is now under arrest in Paparoa Hospital. An inquest on the body began at 2 pan.. I o-ilay. The Needhams are recent arrivals from English