MAN RUNS AMOK WITH AN AXE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 20

MAN RUNS AMOK WITH AN AXE.

FOUR MEN AND TWO WOMEN INJURED. ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE FOLLOWS. (From Oue Own Cop.hespondent.) WANGANUI, September 9. A labouring man named; Frederick Bennier, about 3V years of age, ran amok with an ordinary axe in the early hours of this morning at Kauangaroa, about 20 miles from Wanganui, and succeeded in injuring four men and two women so severely that all are now inmates of the Wanganui Hospital, though it k believed all will recover. Bennier also attempted to take his own lii'o by cutting his throat with a razor, but he, too, is likely to recover. The cause of Bennier's murderous lapse cannot yet be explained, but it appears that ho and his wife have been living on bad terms. Ho and his family camo to Wanganui about eight months ago from Whangamomona, and ho at once got work at the Harbour Board quarry. They took lip residence at Makirikiri, but domestic troubles arose, and tho position became moro strained when one of the children died from diphtheria. Mrs Bennier then left her husband, as the life was too lonely for her, and she went to live with her brother, Mr A. E. Beckham, at Kaiwangaroa, taking all tho children with her. Some time afterwards Bennier went to her and asked her to return home, but she refused, and he became very angry. He went away, but on Friday night ho returned to find that_ his wife was away at Eitham. Ho remained on, and Mrs Bennier camo back to her brother's placo last evening. Three young fellows named Athelston Oonroy Baylor (19 years of age), Henry Watson (19 years), and Norman Young (17 years), who were employed by Mr Beckham, occupied a room at tho back of the house. After tea all indulged in cards, and Bennier never gave tho slightest indication that ho was anything but friendly. About midnight all retired, the three boys to their own room, Mrs Bennier and Mi's Beckham, with two of the children, to another room, while Mr Beckham was accommodated on a shakedown in the same room. Bennier and four of hia own children were placed in another room. About 3 o'clock this morning he apparently got up in his shirt and underpants, went to the wood heap and secured an axe. Then, going first to tho boys' room, he swiftly hit each of the sleepers on the head, inflicting nasty, gaping wounds. Believing them to be dead, ho glided into the room occupied by the iwo women, Mr Beckham, and the two babies, and, as all were sound asleep, his quiet movements did not arouse them. He first of all" struck tho two women, by which time the unusual sounds had aroused Mr Beckham, who just had time to take in the situation, when Bennier slashed at him. Mr Beckham was hit, and the blood was flowing from him profusely. Nevertheless, ho joined combat with his assailant, and after a brief struggle succeeded in wresting away the weapon. Bennier then rushed out of the house, and, so far as the occupants were concerned, they saw no more of him. Tho lad Young by this time bad recovered sufficiently to crawl to a wharo near by and arouse the occupants, who, in turn, lost no time in waking Mr Hunter. The latter, by the use of the telephone, soon had all the neighbours astir, 'besides communicating with the police at, Wanganui. When the neighbours arrived it was to find Beckham's place a perfect shambles, and they did all they possibly could for those who were injured. Senior Sergeant Bourke, Constables M'Millan and D. Wilson, and Dr Wall motored out to the scene of tho tragedy as quickly as possible, arriving just about daylight. No time was lost, by the doctor in dressing the wounds.

A search of the section was made to ascertain if thero woro any signs of Bonnier. In an old unoccupied placo about 200 yards away from the house of the tragedy he was found lying on the floor with his throat badly out and an open razor beside him. Tho wound was subsequently stitched up. and all the injured persons were motored into the Wangnnui Hospital. Tho neishboxirs did all they possibly could in rendering first aid and attending to the children. During tho journey to tho hospital Bonnier regained consciousness, and asked one of the constables what had occurred. Upon beinor informed, ho said: "I wish I was dead." It is thought that the disagreement with his -wife had affected his mind, though last night, up to the retirement of tho party to their respective rooms, nothing had been said or done to create suspicion or to indicate the horrible plan working in Bennier's mi"!. How each blow failed to penetrate vital nlnees is also inconceivable, as the wounds inflicted are doop and severe. Moreover, thero is no aeoountintr for the murderous attack on tho younsr men, who had no connection whatever with tho families in question other than as boarders, unliv?s it was that Bonnier decided to kill them first so that thov would not be able to assist later in any struggle that might follow. . . At the time of telegraphing the victims are all doin? as well as can be expected. The affair has naturally caused quite a sensation in the country. WANGANUT. September 10. Mrs Bonnier, one of the victims of the Kauanrraron tragedv. died at the hospital at 5 o'clock this afternoon. (Feoji Our Own Correspondent.) WANGANUL September ,10. Inquiries at the hospital to-day elicited the fact that most of the victims of the Kauangaroa affair were progressing as well

ag could bo exported in view of the seriousness of their injuries. In ths connection, the medical superintendent states that had the axe used nv Bennier been a sharp one all his victims would have been killed. In two cases the. brain was protruding from the wounds. Matson is also in a critical condition. Bennier is in a bad state, he having- cut his throat 1o the windpipe, wheh was, however, not severed. It appears that Bennier, after having slashed his throat, walked to the river bank with the intention of drowning himself, but returned to the house and again cut his throat.