TRIPLE VILLAGE TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 276, 20 November 1926, Page 36

TRIPLE VILLAGE TRAGEDY.

DISCOVERY IN A COTTAGE,

A terrible tragedy, -which involved the deaths of three persons, was discovered at a cottage at The Mount, Frome, Somerset. The victims are Mrs. Tnorne, 56, a widow; Isaac Bray, over 70. an old age pensioner, formerly a reader at a Frome printing works, and late licensee of an hotel there; and William Hoddinott, aged about 40, a former coachman. Not hearing anything for some time of the occupants of the house where the tragedy occurred, a neighbour at about eleven a.m. communicated her fears to a friend, who, failing to rouse anyone at the house, summoned the pilice. A police sergeant got through a window on the ground floor, and went into the kitchen. Here he found Mrs. Thorne and Bray lying on the floor with terrible injuries to their heads. The table was epread for a meal, which had been partly consumed, and two of the cups were still half full of cocoa. The officer went upstairs, and in one of the rooms found the body of Hoddinott, with his throat very badly gashed and a razor lying near. A chopper was found In the elnk in the kitchen, and it is believed that blows from this weapon caused the death of Mrs. Thorne and Bray. A third cup was found lying on the floor. A sister of Mrs. Thorne said that Hoddinott had been staying with Mrs. Thorne for about twelve months, and Bray a few weeks longer. The money she received from them for their lodgings was her .only means of livelihood. Mrs. Thorne had remarked that at times Hoddinott had seemed somewhat strange in his behaviour, and on one occasion he complained about his food, remarking that there was poison in It. Soon after the outbreak of war Hoddinott joined the Army, and saw considerable service. Since early this year he has been out of employment. So far as is known, he was not in receipt of unemployment benefit, and it was thought he had been living on his savings.