DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1920, Page 4

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

FATHER ATTACKS HIS FAMILY. OXE CHILD DEAD. By Telegraph.— Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. Tlio police wore advised this morning that Dr. Slenhonse, of Balelntha. had been rung up by Mr. Pannet, of Wharetoa, saying fliat a farmer named Joliri Sharp, of Rongahere, had attacked his cliildren during Saturday. The children had got away from him, hut in the evening he attueked two of them. One got away, but the other—a girl named Sophia, seven years of age—was rendered unconscious. Mr. Pannett asked the doctor to go to the scene, and bring a constable \vith him. Dr. Stcnlionse and Constable Findlay, from Balelntha, set out for Rongahere, arriving at 3 o'clock this morning. The injured girl, with the other members of the family, were with Mrs. Ireland, nearby. On examination the doctor found that the child's bend bad been bashed in. He took the child in bis car. and started out for Dunedin with the object of placing, the injured girl in hospital, but by the time he had gone, seven miles she expired. He thereupon retnmed with the body to Mrs. Ireland's, and left it there. Mrs. Sharp bad been in delicate health, and was staying in Dunedin. iSJiarp is described as 70 years old, I feet 10 inches, stout, dressed roughly, and with a, straggled beard. A party of police set out from Dunedin at eleven o'clock this morning to search for Sharp. A party of police also left from Invercargill, the scene of the tragedy being on the boarderland of the Otago and the Southland police districts. Sharp made for Lawrence, and there gave himself up at the police station He stated to Sergeant Kidd that he had struck one of his girls, but thought she was all right.