FARM TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 27, 2 January 1931, Page 7

FARM TRAGEDY.

SENSATIONAL SEQUEL. Received January 2, 8.5 a.m. PERTH, Jan. 1. There was a sensational sequel to the tragedy at a farm near Bruce Rock whore Mrs McCaskell, aged 28, and lror baby were found battered to death, and a farm hand, William Albert ,aged 21, hanging on the verandah of the house. Yesterday the polico investigating declared that they were not satisfied with the theory that tiro murders were committed by tho farm-hand. It was definitely established that Mrs McCaskell’s lifo was insured recently for £2OOO. To-day tho ease took a still grimmer turn. The murdered woman’s husband, Victor McCaskell, aged 28, is now dead, making the fourth victim. W’hen lie learned that the police had held up the funeral of Mrs AlcOaskell and her child, the husband was 14 miles away awaiting the cortege. lie suddenly motored hack to his farm at high speed, pursued by a policeman. McCaskell drove right through a wire fence, halted near a haystack, placed gelignito in liis mouth, and blew liis head and a portion of his body to atoms. Tho policeman arrived just ill time to witness the horrible deed.