DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1920, Page 5

DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

THE MASTERTON MURDER. ' •

VERDICTS AT THE INQUEST. oy Teleeraph.—Press AajocJatloi Masterton, 7jist Night. -Mr. E. G. Eton, district coroner, held an inquest on the bodies of Gavin Me- I Kenzie, who was murdered in a shocking manner on Thursday last, and Edward John J lay, the JS-year-old farm boy who perpetrated the' deed, at the residence of the McKenzie family at Eernridge, Jlasterton, on Saturday afternoon. " j Formal evidence was given on the . lines already published. •T. Diiippn, probationer otliccr fur the Wellington district, said Hay -was always regarded as a bright, industrious, and honest liny, and had given every satisfaction to employers who had him for four years previous to his entering the employment of Geo. MeKenzie. Witness had it on reliable authority that Day's- father also committed suicide. His employers; gave Hay an exeelleat character. Another witness said" li.-> saw Hav and the little boy playing in n paddock about 115 o'clock, apparently quit* happy and contented. Witness waved to them, and they returned his salutation. He was too far distant to speak to them. Formal evidence was given by the , police who conducted the search and discovered the bodies in circumstances previously reported. The coroner returned a verdict, regarding the little boy, to the effect that he died from injuries received from a blow from an axe, delivered bv Edward William John Hay, the said blow causing a deep wound'at the back of the hpad, and was the cause of death'. Tho coroner also found that the deceased Hay was not of normal intelligence. The coroner conveyed his personal and heartfelt, sympathy, and that of the whole district, to the afflicted parents in connection with the tragedy, which, he said, was viewed with horror in all parts of the Dominion. A verdict of suicide was returned in reference to the death of Hay. The little, victim' was buried in the Masterton cemetery this afternoon. A large concourse followed the remains to ; the grave, where pathetic scenes were witnessed: The great sympathy of the whole district was testified' to* by the large attendance at the funeral.