GHASTLY TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1929, Page 6

GHASTLY TRAGEDY

THREE DEAD BODIES. IN BLAZING COTTAGE.: (Australian Press Association) SYDNEY, August 22. A shocking tragedy was discovered in a blazing cottage, near Woy Woy, north of Sydney, this morning. Neighbours extinguished the flameSj and while they were fighting the fire, they discovered the bodies of a man, woman and a child. The indications are that the man, F. Allsop, a retired farmer, shot his. housekeeper,, an elderly woman, and. her child, aged five years, and then set fire to the dwelling, and turned the weapon upon himself. The police arc now convinced that the housekeeper, whose name is unknown, first shot Allsop, who is a retired flour miller from the North Coast, o:nd then some hours later shot the 'child, eventually killing hersjelf in the same manner. Apparently she set fire- to the house beforehand. ■ Her body, with the child resting on an arm, was in one room. Allsop’s body was in another. Allsop was regarded as a quiet, inoffensive man, without a grievance, while the woman is described by neighbours .as a most peculiar person, at all times morose. The woman victim of the Woy Woy tragedy lias been identified as Mrs Hite, aged fifty, of the /Newcastle District. ‘ A letter from another woman addressed to Allsop. is thought to be the. motive for the tragedy.