THE KAKAHI TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1916, Page 4

THE KAKAHI TRAGEDY.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. By Telegraph—Press Association, Tanmarunui, Last Night. An inquest was held to-day at Kakalii concerning the death of David Jelfery, the father, and Gordon, his infant son, in connection with the tragedy before Mr. A. S. Laird, coroner. Hannah Oldham, the nearest neighbor, stated that deceased's wife struggled to her fence, calling out to witness. Seeing the woman's condition she said: ''Oh, dear, what's the matter?" Mrs. .Jeffrey replied: "Dave did it, and shot all my kids." Jeyery objected to his wife going to dances, and they disagreed over her dancing with a man named James Clarke, but she said there was no harm in it. Jelfery was a. man of good character, but of quick temper. The only reason for the deed could be that his wife's namo was mixed up with that of Clarke, and this was common talk in the town. George Oldham deposed that Mrs. JcfTVrv was fully dressed and had her head bandaged when she culled for help. The intimacy with f'lavke was common talk. .lefl'ery, who had lived at Kakalii for five years, was an honest and sober man, and was fond of his children. Deceased approached witness for the truth concerning Clarke, but witness told him nothing. While being carried on a stretcher to the train. Mrs. Jeffery said "Isn't it dreadful? Dave's dead." William Geaney, a railway ganger, said that Jell'ery was a pleasant and good workman. He told witness about his wife and Clarke, and asked if he knew anything. Constable John Maher detailed the statement made by Mrs. Jell'ery since the tragedy. The family retired at 10 p.m. She was awakened in the night by feeling ill, and was bleeding from the head. She called her husband, but received no response. She woke again at daylight, and saw fully the extent of the tragedy. She dressed and called the Oldliams. Her husband objected to her dancing with Clarke because he had heard from someone about an alleged serious offence against him. They had quarrelled a good deal since the military ball, because she danced with Clarke after the committee had requested him to leave the building. The committee had met and asked Clarke to leave because of an alleged offence against him. Clarke refused to leave the building, and asked Mrs. Jeffery to dance, but she refused, but ns he 'persisted, she did not want to offend him, she consented. This was (he last dance and caused scandalous talk, which her husband hois- 1 . The inquest was adjourned sine dia to hear the wife's evidence when she is able to give it. The victims in the hospital are still unci-n.'cious, except the wife. No further deaths have occurred. *■■ i