TRAGEDY IN THE WAIKATO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 206, 28 February 1912, Page 4

TRAGEDY IN THE WAIKATO.

lIALF-CASTE MURDERS HIS WIFE AND SUICIDES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Hamilton, Yesterday. News has been received from Te Awamutu that a wealthy half-caste named Graham is supposed to have murdered his wife and then committed suicide in the Tarawcra district, eight miles away. / Hamilton, Last Night. Details of the Parawera tragedy show that Graham, whose 'native name was .Kercana Kahi, murdered his wife by dashing out her brains with a gun after vainly trying to shoot her with a revolver.

From documents found it appears that the act was premeditated for the past fortnight, There has been domestic disagreements, the wife threatening to leave him and go to Rotorua.

The stock of the gun was' broken off, and the left side of the victim's head was completely smashed in, the brains protruding. The man then took rabbit poison, but immediately afterwards, being surprised by a native who ran in alarmed by the screams of the woman, "He's killing me!" took a double-barrelled gun and, with a string, fired it off. The charge entered his breast in the region q$ the heart, and death was instantaneous. The woman's left arm was broken, as though she had been warding off the blows.

Both the man and his victim were about 45 years old, milked cows and supplied a, creamery. An inquest will be held this evening. The tragedy occurred at 4.30 this morning, both" victims being half dressed.