VILLAGE TRIPLE TRAGEDY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8358, 19 February 1913, Page 4

VILLAGE TRIPLE TRAGEDY

MAN KILLS WIFE, CHILD, AND HIMSELF. SHOT ON DOORSTEP.. LONDON, January 12. The Somersetshire village of North Petherton, three miles from Bridgwater, has been tho seen© of a terrible triple tragedy. A man named Frank Atyeo killed his wife and child, and afterwards inflicted a fatal wound in his own head. Atyeo, who was a native of Middlezoy, a village near by, bad been married about two years, and until recently was employed at a farm, where he lived with his wife and child. Some weeks ago ho was arrested for drunkenness and assaulting the police, and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. In consequence he lost his situation, his home was sold up, and his wife and child went to live with Mrs Atyeo’a parents in Mill street, North Petherton. Atyeo went to Middlezoy, his native place. It is said that ho had frequent quarrels with his wife. He visited her the other day, and gave her some money, but did not stay long. He cycled to Bridgwater during the morning, and purchased a saloon rifle and cartridges. He had previously attempted to buy a revolver at another shop, but was refused on failing to produce a gun license. Ho was Seen to arrive at his wife’s home in an excited state, and when spoken to by neighbours, did not reply coherently. The rifle, wrapped in brown paper, was attached to his bicycle. . Just after 11 o’clock Atyoo appeared at the door of the cottage with his child.. A neighbour named Mrs Strong saw him sit down on the doorstep, place the child between his legs, and fire at it before she could intervene. Mrs Strong and other neighbours rushed towards Atyeo, who turned the rifle on himself, the bullet entering the left temple. The child was dead between its father’s legs, and the man was lying on his back across tho threshold of the cottage in an unconscious condition. The police were called, and on entering the cottage they found Mrs Atyeo lying on her face in the kitchen. She was dead, and when Dr. Hawkins arrived he stated that her neck was broken. The child’s neck was also broken, but by what means Atyeo had inflicted such terrible injuries .is not known, as neither Mrs Atyeo nor the child was battered on the head. Atyeo died in the afternoon without regaining consciousness. Mrs Atyeo’s mother and father were both at work at tho time of the tragedy. Atyeo was a steady and industrious man until he gave way to drink a few weeks ago. At the inquest the jury found that Atyeo committed suicide after murdering his wife and child.