THE OTAKI TRAGEDY

Southland Times, Issue 18831, 26 May 1920, Page 6

THE OTAKI TRAGEDY

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.

AN UNACCOUNTABLE DfiED.

(Per United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, May 25

At the inquest at Otaki on Thomas McFall and his daughter Olive, Mrs Wylie, daughter of McFall, said she did not know of anything to account for her father attacking her sister Olive. He was a temperate man and did not display any ill-temper that day. He was not excitable, and was quiet in the house. Olive was 17A years of age, a good living girl and on good terms with her father. While sitting in the kitchen that evening McFall had asked Olive what she was writing about. Olive replied that she had not written anything out of place. Witness did not know what she meant. Later,on the same witness said she knew of no reasons for the act. Her father had never threatened any of the family. His suicide was a mystery, nor did she know why he should harm Olive. The letter referred to might have irritated him. She did not know its contents. There was no other evidence to account for McFall’s action, and in his case a simple verdict of suicide was returned.