Murder and Suicide

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3038, 21 February 1899, Page 2

Murder and Suicide

A murder and suicide took place at the Royal Hotel, Palaierston North, on Saturday morniDg, William D. M'Kain, son of a confectioner at the Lower Hutt, shooting his wife Minnie, daughter of the late Sergeant Price, of Masterton, and himself. From the information to hand it appears that the couple, who were both apparently under 25 years of age, had been to Auckland on a honeymoou trip, returning to Wellington and reaching Palmerston on Tuesday last. They seemed very affectionate going out in the morning and afternoon for a stroll round the town, and spending the rest of the time in their bedroom or on the hotel balcony, but not associating with anyone else or even using any sitting room. On Friday night about 10.30 M'Kain took a cup of coffee up to his wife in her bedroom, and was heard as if dictating a letter to her. This morning about half-past four two thuds were heard in the bedroom occupied by the couple, but the occupant of the next room thought it was someone hitting the wall. He called out, and there being no response he dismissed the matter from his thoughts. The housemaid knocked at the door of the bedroom several times, and could get no response, so about 11 a.m. told Mr J. E. Hall, the licensee, who also tried to open the door or to arouse the occupants, without successHe went to the police for advice, but did not Bee them till after mid-day, when Sergeant Wilson and Detective Henderson went to the hotel and broke in the door of the bedroom. They found both the man and the woman lying on the bed dead. A revolver lay beside the man, with three barrels discharged and three containing cartridges. The woman appeared to have been shot twice behind each ear, while the man was shot in the mouth. A few documents were found in the room, including a letter from Mrs M 'Kain's mother at Masterton, a P.O. Savings Bank receipt, some photographs of both parties, taken recently by Kinsey, of Wellington, threepence in coppers, and an insurance policy in the Citizen's office.

M'Kain, father of the man who committed the tragedy at Palmerston North, is a confectioner at the Hutt. He interviewed Inspector Pender on Sunday night, and leaves for Palmerston North by the morning train. It appears the deceased was 22 years of age and was married about the middle of January last. He visited Dunedin, Christchurch, and Auckland on a honeymoon trip and had returned to Palmerston North with a view to starting business in the brushware manufacture trade, which he had formerly followed. His father states that deceased had at times shown mental affliction, and thinkß the tragedy may have been brought about by disappointment in connection with certain moneys which he had expected not being received.

Interviewed, Miss M'Kain, sister of the murderer, said that the man was of a quiet, uncommunicative disposition who had never given any indication of morbid inclinations. He waa of an ambitious and very studious disposition, and his oharacter waa of the bestHe was a bruahmaker by occupation, but was imbued with the idea that he was better fitted for clerical work. With this end in view ho tried to enter the Gp/emment service, but the fact that he had not passed the Sixth Standard was against him. Hi ß photograph ohowa M'Kain to have a more than unually intelligent face. The girl, who was a blonde, also had very pleasing features. Mr Fred Moorhouse, ranger of the Acclimatisation Society, who was called in as a resident of the Hutt to identify the bodies, says that they presented a ghastly sight. The woman's face was frightfully contorted, it being evident that she had screwed up her features in fear of the first shot, and the impression had become fixed so after the second. The man's face was, on the contrary, quite placid and serene. The pair had cleared the pillowslips and sheets off the bed and lay there side by side in their nightgowns, which were of course smothered in blood. There seems no doubt that the pair had come to their last penny through travelling about, and had mutually agieed to die together. They seem co have been very cheerful on the night of the tragedy, and were heard laughing and talking together by people who passed through the passage. Mr M'Kain, sen., is arranging to bring the bodies down to the Hutt, and they will be buried together in accordance with their wwbee,