TREBLE TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1931, Page 6

TREBLE TRAGEDY

infatuated man. MURDERS MARRIED COUPLE. (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, April 30. A tragedy is reported from Temaro. rhere are three dead. One is John Billings aged twenty-eight years, a locomotive driver. Another is Mis Billings, his wife, aged twenty-three years. An unknown man is the third victim. The police obtained a story of the tragedy from Billings’ adopted son, aged six years, who was awakened in the early morning by hearing his lather call out. The boy then heard a gun shot. He saw his father drop on the floor. His mother rushed to Ins aid. She was also shot. She uttered a shrill cry, and then fell dead. Both of the shots were fired through the bedroom window. The neighbours heard the shots and screams. They discovered that the Billings’ cottage was also on fire. They subdued the flames and rescued the boy. • The police later found the body ol an unknown man at the local railway shed with a bullet wound in the forehead. There was a sawn-off pea liiie beside the body. Letters were found in his pocket, which indicated that he was madly in love with Mrs Billings. IDENTITY OF MURDERER. SYDNEY, April 30. Further news of the Temora tragedy, is that the unknown victim has been identified as J. Mid/dlebrook, aged thirty-eight, who, it is believed, murdered the Billings couple and then suicided.