A SHOCKING AFFAIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1917, Page 4

A SHOCKING AFFAIR.

SIX PERSONS 'STRUCK WITH AS AXE. CULPRIT ATTEMPTS SUICIDE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wanganui, Last Night. A shocking affair occurred at Kari« angaroa, near Fordell, early this mornnig. Frederic! Bennier arose at 3M and, procuring an axe, went into the ■back rpoai occupied by three young men,' Athobißaylev ■(*s, Henry Watson (19), and Norman Young (17;. Each had Iris bead cut open. Bennier theri attacked Ins wife and Mrs. Beckham, who wero sleeping in the game 'bed, along with an infant The child was not touched, hut each of the women got a terrible cut in the head, Albert Beckham, bearing, the noise, entered his wife's bedroom, when Bennier struck him violently on the head and then bolted. Beckham, despite 1 his injuries, was able to raise an alarm. and the police and a doctor were summoned from Wanganui. The policj found Bennier in a shed 250 yards away, with hi s throat cut,VHe was stall alive as were the other victims, and his wound was stitched. Tho neighbors provided motor cars, and the six sufferers were taken to the hospital. All arc expected to recovet Bennier was recently employed at th« Harbor Board quarries, his wife Jand four children living in the vicinity. Th« children., some weeks ago, were admitted to the hospital suffering from fever, ona dying. Mrs. ( Bennier then took the survivors to Kauangaroa and declined to go back to the quarjies, Whereupon Beniiiel got employment near Kauangaroa. ;• H« and his wife" and others were playina cards, till midnight on Saturday, and were all on good terms. '(