HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 21 May 1920, Page 3

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

MURDER AND SUICIDB; OTAE.S RESIDENT STABS HIS DAUGHTER. CUTS HIS OWN THROAT.

Otaki residents, and indeed tin whole community, were completely stunned by the revelation of a horribly crime, the enormity of which is,' lor Innately, extremely rare. It was re ported late Fast night that Mr T. MeFail, a well-known local resident, had murdered his daughter by stabbing her, and had then committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor. The news was so dreadful that it was not believed at iirst, but it soon became known that, unfortunately, it was only too true. ■ The Constable’s Story. Constable . Sathorley was summoned a litile alter 0 o’clock last night, and immediately went to the scene ot the double tragedy—Mci-Ydl’s home, situated in Mill road, between the township and the railway station, A Gruesome Sight. On entering the house the constable found Mr MoFalL’s second eldest daughter, Olive, lying partly in her bedroom and partly in the passage way. She was dead. On examining the body, the constable found a wound over the left breast, in the region of the heart, and another in the back, between the shoulders, evidently made with a sharp knife. The girl was clad only in a nightdress. There was blood all along fhe passage. Constable Hutherley I fouad the girl’s father lying with his j head inside his own bedroom, at tin ! rear of the house, in a welter of blood. I His throat had been cut. and lie also was dead. Alongside the body was an j open razor, covered with blood. On searching the house the eon,,table j found a butcher 's knife on the kitchen table. The knife had been wiped, but I showed signs of blood, and a further J search revealed a bloody rag, thrown in the bathroom, on which the limit harTevidently been wiped. The house, resembled a slaughteryard, and Constable Sathoriey says he has never beheld such a ghastly sight. How the Deed Occurred. V Very'meagre dcts.il., are available of what led to the horrible deed. McCall came home troiu work in tin' evening, and had tea with his family as usual. Afterward!* ao sat a.ml chatted with them, until they went to bed, at an early hour. His eldest daughter (Mrs 1). Wylie), who, with her two infant , children were slaying with hex father for a time, went, to bed about 8.30 p.m., leaving her sister Olive with

her father. Coon alter she heard her father and sister having a somewhat heated discussion, prior to the daLler coining to the bedroom —the two sisters were sleeping in the same room. When Olive was jusl about undressed Mr McJfall called out: “ I'ou’ve not gone to bed, have you I" to which Olive responded that she was just going to bed, and went out of the,room to set; what her father wanted. Mr Mei’all came into the passage, and then Mrs Wylie beard her sister scream out, “Oil, lather, you ’ve killed me! ” Mrs Wylie nished out of bed, and found her sister bleeding from two terrible wounds,, from which she succumbed immediately. On going into the back room she found her father also dying from SL'lf-intlicted wounds. -Mr Watts, a neighbour, was summoned, and the police and Dr. Sharpe were sent for. In addition to Mrs Wylie and her two infant children, there were also in the house at the time a younger daugnLer (Dulcie) and two boys. The Victims. Mr Thomas Mci’all was a man of ■ibout -lb to IS years of age. He resid'd for many years at Waihoanga, Micro he was engaged in saw milling, sume time back he came to live al iiaki, anil for several years was enpiged as a plumber, working lor Mr . il. Williams, who speaks ol him as man,of most exemplary character, nd a good and faithful workman. M.c----,i 11 had had a lot of trouble. During !;e epidemic of tills he lust his wife, ml a in tie son a Iso died at'about the ante I line. Mr Mel'all was a hardorking, straightforward man, and seined most devoted til his family, hum he gave every attention. He as in good health on the day ol the aged;/, arid seemed quite happy with ~ family that evening. It was known uu he was worried with domestic on hies. Miss Olive McFall was 10 yopra of gc, and a bright, promising young Oman. Mr Mel'all leaves a family of seven iildren. THE INQUEST. An inquest, touching file death of the vo victims will be held at Otaki tolorrovv morning. Detective-Sergeant Quirke, of Palicrston North, is in Otaki to-day in iiuueetion with the tragedy.