TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 315, 15 June 1915, Page 5

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

double murder and attempted SUICIDE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright, _ Sydney, June 14. An atrocious tragedy, o&'iirrcd afi resulting in the deaths of Mrs. Tucker, her brother, Ernest Maths- r son, and the attempted suicide of tho murderer, Jolm Thomas Tucker. Aocording to the story told by Tucker'* fifteen-year-old son, his father was Ts- - sent to gaol for not complying ■ with a maintenance order. Betnminfr home, ho gained admittance by the window, and tied his ivife to the bedpost, where she remained all night while he himself slept. He also kept the boy in the room. Matheson called next morning, and was admitted. Tucker threatened him with a revolver, and made the boy bind eyes and hands. Tucker then beat him on the head with tlie butt of the revolver till lie wai dead. Tucker returned to bed, and slept throughout the day. Tho boy, whtf was worn out with watching, yrae awakened in the night by his mother's tries', and found his father beating her. He continued his fiendish work till she waß dead. Tucker then shot himself, aild has been token to the hospital in a' fierious condition. The boy escaped ancE informed the police. FURTHER PARTICULARS. THE OUTCOME OF JEALOUSY. Received June 14, 8 p.m Sydney, June 14. Tucker was released from prison a few days ago, and he forced his way way to the house in the early hours of the morning. He appears to havd used a hatchet i(i killing his victim* He kept his wife tied to a bedpost fot several hours, and then released her after killing Matheson. The mother and the boy spent twelve frightful hour? without food. There wore frequent quarrels between the couple, terminating in Tucker striking his wife on the head with a hatchet. The blows were repeated with every, groan till the woman was dead, the. boy burying his head under the bedclothetf in terror at the sight. Tucker, after shooting himself through the chest, wenfe to his sister's residence, and thence to the hospital* He is likely to recover.