KILLED WITH AXE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1921, Page 5

KILLED WITH AXE

I LABORER MURDERED. BACKBLOCKS TRAGEDY. ASSAILANT ADMITS CRIME. By Telegraph.—Press As^n.—Copyright. Wanganui, Last Night. The police received word that a murder was committed at Mangamahu this evening. As far as can be gathered George Gordon, a single man, aged 56, and John Kinj sella, a single man, aged 30, both casual j laborers, were at an hotel during the after- ' noon. They had a few drinks and then went to Gordon’s whare. They evidently quarrelled, and Kinsella killed Gordon with ;an axe.

Kinsella announced the tragedy and gave himself up. The Wanganui police motored to Mangamah.u and late to-night returned with Kinsella and the body of Gordon. iNo further particulars are available. Later. The police arrived after midnight. It appears Kinsella and Gordon had been drinking heavily. The former, when arrested, said Gordon lay down in the whare and asked accused to cut his b head off. Kinsella said he got an axe and struck Gordon vtith it.

There was evidence of two blows on the back and front of the neck, the blade on each occasion penetrating the spinal column. Dr. Anderson, who accompanied the police to arrest accused, said death was instantaneous.

Accused, when formally charged with wilful murder, laughed and said: “Righto. I done it.”