AWFUL MURDERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8295, 26 November 1906, Page 3

AWFUL MURDERS.

POLICEMAN SHOOTS TWO DAUGHTERS. (ByMail.) MELBOURNE, November 14. A terrible domestic tragedy occurred at Pyramid Hill, 50 miles from Bendigo, today. Oliver John Lang, a mounted constable, who bad been stationed there ?or h uumher of years, murdered bis two little daughters and then shot himself. •Eight months ago Lang's first wife died,and eleven weeka ago he married a second time. 'lbe main story bt to-day's frightful tragedy is told by 'the young wife. , She reports that: shortly after bis midday dinner Lang weat into bis office to write a number ■■of letters. Ha afterwards went to the po3t offioe to despatob them. On his return he took bis two little -daughters, aged i and 5 years respeO' tively,with bim into a buott bedroom. Mrs Lung waa somewbut mystified •by his behaviour. Some moments Jater she heard thtoa'shots fired in quick succession. She attempted to open the door* and d.'saovered that it had been barrionded from within. She forced her way iu, uud found her unsound lying on the floor covered with blood, which was flowini* from a wouud iu bis head. Close to his side ware his daughters, nnd thoy, too, were dead, with blood oozing .from beneath thair curia. ) Ibe horrifiad woman rushed from the bouae, and in a half demented •state informed a neighbour of the tragic occurronoe. Medical aid waa summoned. For several dayi past Lang had vinced alarming peculiarities. Much of his time he spent iu his ;*bed and it is said he had been drinking considerably. A bottle half-full of whisky was found under h?s pillow; Shortly before midnight on, Tuesday night be woke his wife, and terrified her by saying in a strained s<voice, "What would you do if J were to die?" Though the words alarmed her at the time, she did .not apprehend their awful signifl •canoe, and shortly after fell asleep. Lang's motive for having committed the urime is altogether inexplicable. He has left nu communication that could afford a clue. It is rumoured that he had reaently "been, reprimanded by headquarters, and that the censure had worried bim. His widow and a young son survive h«m.