TRAGEDY AT AUCKLAND.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 6 December 1915, Page 3

TRAGEDY AT AUCKLAND.

GHASTLY DOUBLE MURDER and SUICIDE. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 3. A ghastly tragedy occurred tonight, when a half-caste named George Gordon, a labourer by occupation, murdered a single woman named Martha McKee, with whom he had been living for eighteen months. It appears that Gordon attacked the child with the butt end of a hatchet,smashing its head 'to a pulp. He then attacked McKee with the hatchet inflicting terrible injuries. Both died in the hospital shortly after admission. The murderer then cut his own throat from ear to ear with a razor, and slashed his abdomen, inflicting a great wound. He lies in the hospital in a dying condition. There is every indication of a deliberate and sudden attack. Gordon and the woman Lived in a room in Hobson street on the first floor, the room overlooking the street. Nothing was known of the tragedy until a sister of McKee called and' found the doors and windows locked.’ There was another child, aged about 21 years, in the room,apparently a; child of Gordon’s marriage, the where-; abouts of his wife being unknown. Gordon did not attack his child, and McKee’s sister succeeded in getting her to push the key under the door and thus gained admission.

LATER PARTICULARS. AUCKLAND, December 3. Very little is known of Gordon's antecedents. He came to Auckland from Kihikihi some weeks ago. A letter addressedto his mother at Kihikihi refers to his intention to do something violent. This morning. shortly after 1 o’clock, Gordon entered the house and went upstairs. The landlord stated that he did not see him again. The woman McKee returned about three o’clock.? The landlord added that during the next couple of hours the only sound from Gordon’s room was as if the bed was being moved. There was no scream or sound of a struggle. Gordon is sinking rapidly.