A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1920, Page 5

A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

FATHER KILLS HIS DAUGHTER.

then commits suicide,

By Telegraph.—Press Assn Copyright. Levin, May 21. A shocking tragedy took place at Otaki last night, when a mail named •Thomas -MoFull murdered his daughter Olive, aged 19, and then committed suicide.

His daughter was just retiring to rest when MeFall called her to him and stnbbed her twice in the chest and back with a butcher's knife and then cut his own throat- Both died immediately. It is understood a serious charge, involving another daughter, was pendins against MeFall.

FURTHER DETAILS.

Wellington, May 21. From such particulars as have been obtained by telephone it appears that about a man named MeFall, a Widower with four daughters, a laborer by occupation, became engaged in an argument with his 19 year old daughter, Olive. .

A brisk interchange of words was overheard by a married daughter. The father's tone was more in the nature, of heated controversy than of violent anger and the cause of the trouble appeared to be a letter which ho demanded and which she refused to surrender. Tlh> girl, it wag stated, remonstrated, and was suddenly heard to emit a loud cry and exclaim: "Oh father, you have stabbed me."

Immediately afterwards another call was heard and when the married daughter rushed into the room she was horrified to find both her father and sister in extremis. Both died a short time afterwards.

The evidence points to the fact that the father in the stress of anger seized a sharp, thin instrument, probably a hatpin, and made.a thrust at the girl, piercing her in such a vital ispot as to cause almost instant death. It is presumed that, horrified at his deed, the man seized a razor and cut his throat, inflicting a fearful gash. The tragedy was reported to the local police by the married daughter and the police Vere quickly on the scene, but too late to be of any assistance, the victims of the quarrel and the tragedy being quite dead. It is understood that MeFall had been a widower for some years.