BROTHERS FATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1939, Page 8

BROTHERS FATE

DOUBLE TRAGEDY IN SOUTH CANTERBURY BODIES FOUND IN HUT. RIFLES LYING NEARBY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WAIMATE August 9. A shocking double tragedy at Redclifl'c. 20 miles from Waimate, was disclosed late this afternoon by breaking open the door of a hut. where the dead bodies of two brothers were found, with rifles nearby. The brothers were George Edison Bell, aged 41. and Harold Hume Beil, aged. 34. Both were single. Indicationswere that the men had been dead since late last week.

It was only through the efforts of a man desirous of discussing urgent affairs with Mr George 801 l that the tragedy was discovered. As no one could be found on the property and the hut was locked up, the police were asked to investigate. Constable Watt went out from Waimate and broke open the door, to find the men's bodies inside, and two rifles lying near the bodies. The hut was locked from the inside. Each rifle had a discharged shell in it.

The bodies were brought into the morgue later. The farm was owned by Mr George Bell, who employed his younger brother, and financial worries cannot be a factor in the tragedy, as Mr George Bell was known to be making a success of the farm. The hut in which both men lived was very comfortably equipped with an expensive cooking stove, an up-to-date wireless and other appliances.

Both brothers were very well known and well liked. They had been on the property, living together, for a number of years, and relations between them were most amicable.

Mr George Ecll was a returned solder. Enlisting at the age of 20. he was wounded in the head and operated on in England for removal of bone pressing on the brain. To all appearances he was physically and mentally a fit man. but several persons having business dealings with him consider that his manner on occasions was strange. CONSTABLE KILLED WHILE DRIVING TO SCENE OF TRAGEDY. COMRADE BADLY INJURED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WAIMATE, This Day. The double tragedy at Redcliff has been followed by another. Constables W. J. Watt and F. J. Black were motoring last night to investigate the scene of the tragedy when their car crashed through the rails into Elephant Hill Creek, falling 12 feet. Both constables were removed to hospital. Constable Watt died at seven this morning Constable Black sustained nasty injuries. Both were popular and efficient officers and married men. Constable Black has five young children and Constable Watt left three, the youngest being nine months old. The condition of Constable Black was reported this afternoon to be satisfactory.