SHOCKING ACCIDENT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10520, 8 January 1912, Page 5

SHOCKING ACCIDENT

MAN AND WOMAN CUT TO PIECES. (By Telegraph — Press Association.) 'TRAMtH, Last Night, A shocking acoaaenit occumned on Saturday jiigiht on the Ivauaerauga .river railway bridge, near the Tlhjalmes. Upon the a.nrival at the Thames of tie 9.20 train, the driver was making the- usanal examination' of the engine, when he discovered: a mian's l cap on the frtiivt of the engine, together with blood stains, liair arid pieces of flesh. Tlhis> proved beyond, doubt that a fatality had occurred. The police were communicated with, and a search was coanmencsd. The awful discovery was< made that two persons had met' theiir deaith with -startling suddenness. The body of Walter Miller, aged 36, a 'local' cara-ier, was found in the river, while the body of a half-caste Native woman-, named Ph'i te Pere, laiged 40, was. found on the bridge, terribly miuti'lated. ! The miaou was found nc-air the river banJs, aind the woman on a sleeper, ' the same distance from the bank. Exactly how the fatality occurred •ils ai mystery. The eniginendriver did not feel a •buimp. Though he kept a good lookout, lie saw no cue. The presumption, is that the couple, not knowing of tliie holiday change in trains., thought that the last train had passed, and after crossing the bridge had sat down and had fish and beer,' and then went to sleep.