FARMHOUSE TRAGEDY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12255, 4 June 1914, Page 8

FARMHOUSE TRAGEDY.

FATHER AND SON VICTIMS. ANOTHER SON CHARGED. LONDON, February 34. Whatton-in-the-Vale, a pretty_ little ' village on the main road from Nottingham to Grantham, about ten miles from the former place, has been stirred to its depths by a terrible tragedy, a father and his youngest you being shot dead) while,' to add to the horror, ting eldest son is. charged with the double murder. The victims are Frederick William Houghton 61. one of the -best known farnrers -in the country, and Jasper Houghton. 20. About 'lO o'clock on Tuesday night Mr Houghton, his wife, niece, and two sons, Jasper and Frederick, were, talking peacefully together in the .'lining-room."' Then Frederick _ said he would go to bed. and went upstairs. Ten minutes later Jasper followed. Just as he got to the top of the stairs a shot rang out. .Mr Houghton and his wife rushed out of the dining-room in alarm. As the father reached tire stairrase another shot eani-o. and Mr Houghton fell dead at his' wife's fe»t. At the top of the. stairs -Mrs Houghton could see Jasper huddled up, also dead. Almost demented. Mrs Houghton screamed for help. The servants were aroused, and the neighbour,; called in. \ cvelist was despatched 10. Bingham, four" miles distant, for a doctor and tinpolice. The doctor found lliat both father and son had been killed instantly with bullets, which had passed through the brain from short range. In the meantime- Frederick had come downstairs. and in the -presence of the police placed live cartridges on the table, saving he had found them on the stairs. He appeared perefctly calm. At the top of the stairs was found a double-barrelled nun belonging to Jasper.. Only the right, Carrel had men used. The gun had been ialien from the kitchen. The. police made a careful search of the farmhouse, and found the windows and doors secure. Deputy Chief Constable Harrop decided to arrest Frederick, and formally charged him. . "I did not do it," lie replied. At. midnight he was removed to the village lock-up, hi:: mother robbing bitterly as he went. • Ernest Greasley, v.-ho lives mar the farm, and was the first to respond lo Mrs Houghton's appeal . lor help, said Lhat when Frederick came into the kitchen his mother threw her arras round his neckband they then stood sobbing together•. Frederick did not seem to know what had happened. The gun was thin lying on the table - , . n r> m - One of the servants, Arabella Kodi, stated that while in bed she. heard muffled steps proceeding from the bedroom occunied bv Frederick arid Jasper. Then she heard Frederick shout, "Mother, it's a »un." The servant said that afterwards Mrs Houghton found the door leading to the stackyard unfastened. Frederfck was with her, and pulled his mother back, saying she might be shot, too, and making a remark about a man disappearing through the stackyard. Frederick was brought before the magistrates at Bingham on Wednesday and formally remanded. Replying to the. charge, he repeated, "I did not do it." He was quite self-possessed. Very little light was thrown on the tragedy at the inquest, which was opened at Whatton on Thursday and .adjourned. The accused man did not attend the inquiry, but was represented by a solicitor. The evidence of the widow, who spoke quite calmly, was that she, her husband, and two'sons were together in the diningroom till 10, on extremely friendly terms. "\\'e were the happiest family in the world/' said the mother, pathetically, "always friendly and affectionate together. Never a cross word.

"Just as Jasper turned to the bedroom the shot was fired. Father went- tip to see what was the matter. At the top he found Jasper's body. As he stooped another shot came from the same spot, and he fell dead downstairs at mv feet."