ATROCIOUS MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15944, 15 June 1915, Page 6

ATROCIOUS MURDER.

HUSBAND'S FIENDISH CRIME. WIFE AND BROTHER KILLED.

SON WITNESSES THE TRAGEDY

" \ By Telegraph— Association—Copyright

Sydney, June 14. The murder in atrocious circumstances of a" married woman, named Mrs. Tucker, and her brother, Ernest Mathcson, by the woman's husband, John Thomas Tucker, is reported from Stanton. According to the story told by Tucker's 15-year-old son, Tucker was recently sent, to gaol for not complying with a maintenance, order. On returning home he gained admittance to the house by a window. He tied his wife to a bedpost, where she remained all night, while lie himse'.f slept. Tucker also kept the boy in the room.

Matheson called next morning, and was admitted' by Tucker, who threatened him with a" revolver. Tucker made the boy bind Matheson's eyes and 'hands, and Tucker then beat him over the head with tho butt of the revolver till he was dead. Tucker returned to his bed and slept throughout the day. The boy, worn out with watching, slept, but was awakened in the night by his mother's cries. The Doy found his lather beating the woman, and the man continued his fiendish work till glio was dead. Tucker then shot himself. The boy escaped fiom'the house and informed the police.

Tucker -was released from prison a few days ago. He -forced his way into the house in the early hours of the morning. It appears that he used a hatchet in killing his victims. .He kept his wife tied to a bedpost for several hours. Then he released her after killing Matheson. The mother and her boy spent 12 frightful hours without food. Frequent quarrels occurred between-the couple, terminating in Tucker striking his wife on the head with a hatchet. He repeated his blows at every groan until she was dead. The boy buried his head in tho bed-clothes in terror at the sight. Tucker, after shooting himself through tho cheek, went to his sister's residence, Thence has was taken to the hospital. It is considered likely that he will recover.