FOURTEEN MURDERED

Hawera Star, Volume L, 11 February 1931, Page 7

FOURTEEN MURDERED

HOUSEHOLD OF AN INDIAN MAGISTRATE FEARS DISGRACE SUDDEN ATTACK AT NIGHT (Uumti l’reus Association— By Electric relrgrupt Copyright.) DELHI, Fell. ilO. Fourteen members of the house-hold of the Indian magistrate of iheppampatti, in the Madura clistric-t, Madras, were found murdered iu mysterious circumstances at the week-end. Ilie victims are the magistrate, his three sons, the wives of his two brothers aud their four sons, three of whom were infants, the magistrate’s three granddaughters and his father-in-law. One brother and two- women were sent to hospital seri-ously injured. They say they were suddenly attacked when sleeping*’ and the magistrate’s daughter was the only' -one who escaped. She, hearing the revolver shots, hid in a bedroom. . i A revolver was found at the mngis-f fc:ate s side. It is reported lie appeal-j ed tiie day previously for help from the police as the lives of himself and his family were threatened by unknown persons. The tragedy is shrouded in' mystery. | The magistrate had feared the law would descend upon him because he committed perjury in a case and that he and his family would be disgraced. It is presumed he took the mad stopping the disgrace by butchering nis whole family and shooting himself.