A GRIM FARM TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14924, 23 February 1912, Page 8

A GRIM FARM TRAGEDY.

FATHER AND, SON SHOT,

A FAMILY LEFT IN CANADA

A gruesome tragedy was discovered to have taken place on a farm at Moorngag Victoria, on Wednesday February 14 Mr. T. F. Harrison found in a slab aiid bark hut the bodies of Samuel James Walker, aged about 55 yeans, and his son Joseph, 24 years of age. Walker, senior was a Canadian, and about four years a™ came to Victoria, where his father, who had left Canada some years previously had acquired 600 acres of land at Moortu gag. The father died soon afterwards] and Walker bought out his b r £ ther's interest 10 months ago. H, sent for his son, who came out from Canada. Tho pair appear to have lived in a wasteful style, as the property was mortgaged. Samuel Walker was last seen on Febru ary 8, when he called at the house oi Mrs. Harrison, a neighbour, and got font loaves of bread and three letters, on* being from Canada, where he had hift wife and seven other children. He dm. raised to call on Mrs. Harrison but did not do so; and later her son, at her request, visited Walker's plate to see if a L thing was wrong. Approaching the haL ho was unable to enter, as the door wag locked. He looked through a broken window of tho bedroom, and saw the decomposed body of a man with his right hand resting near a double-barrelled gun. The muzzle was on his chest pointing towards the side of his head behind the ear. He also noticed the body of an. other man in a bunk. * '.. . The police were immediately informed The bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition, the doctor being of opinion that death occurred a week before. Both men were in their j»eH clothes, the father lying on his back with a large gunshot wound in the chest' -It would appear that while he was asleep the gun was held perpendicularly over him and discharged. There were no sign of a struggle. The younger man was lying on his back. There were three cartridges on the floor beside the bed, also a razor. There was a wound in the young man's throat. After cutting his throat young Walker shot himself, His skull was blown right off. No money was found in the place, and there was very little food. On every hand there was evidence of the existence 1 of poverty. The two were known at times to have had words, but they were thought by the neighbours to be on really' good terms. It is thought that the eon may have decided to return to Canada and have been stopped by his father. A letter which was found in the '■ place showed that he was very dissatisfied with Victoria. ' J3#%>;